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WA DOSH

Chainsaw Leg Protection - Washington (DOSH)

This talk follows Washington (WAC) rules · See the federal OSHA version →

Updated 2026-09-30

In this bundle Tools & Machinery

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On a construction site, the chain saw usually comes out for something small: a stump in the way of a trench, a tree limb over the laydown yard, an oversize timber, a quick cut on cribbing. Federal construction rules have no chain saw leg protection requirement for any of it. Washington does. It is one sentence long, and it applies to every employee whose duties require them to run a power chain saw, whether that is all day or once a week. This Washington Chainsaw Leg Protection Toolbox Talk covers that sentence, who pays for the protection, and the other Washington rules that go with it.

Where the boundary of this talk sits#

This talk covers Washington's construction rule for chain saw leg protection and the PPE rules around it. Kickback, starting, holding, and cutting technique belong to the general chainsaw safety talk.

The anchor#

Here is the distinction that carries this whole talk: in Washington construction, leg protection follows the saw, not the job title — WAC 296-155-211 says employees whose duties require them to operate a power chain saw must wear flexible ballistic nylon pads sewn or otherwise fastened into the trousers, or other equivalent protection that will protect the vulnerable areas of the legs, and the employer must provide that protection at no cost — so the laborer who picks up the saw for ten minutes to clear a stump is covered by the same rule as a tree crew, even though federal construction rules say nothing about chain saw leg protection at all.

The rule#

WAC 296-155-211 reads, in full: "Employees whose duties require them to operate a power chain saw must wear flexible ballistic nylon pads, sewn or otherwise fastened into the trousers, or other equivalent protection that will protect the vulnerable areas of the legs."

Four parts of that sentence decide how it applies on site.

  • "Whose duties require them." It covers anyone assigned to run the saw. There is no minimum time, no exception for short cuts, and no carve-out for supervisors.
  • "Power chain saw." The rule is written for power chain saws. It does not name the fuel, so it reads as covering gasoline and electric saws alike.
  • "Flexible ballistic nylon pads, sewn or otherwise fastened into the trousers." That describes chain saw protective pants. Chaps worn over ordinary trousers are a common form of equivalent protection.
  • "Or other equivalent protection that will protect the vulnerable areas of the legs." Equivalent protection is allowed, but it has to actually protect the vulnerable areas of the legs.

Because the rule is tied to duties rather than to a trade, the task plan is the place to catch it. When a task includes a chain saw cut, the plan should name who will run the saw and list leg protection with the other PPE for that task. The cuts nobody planned, like clearing a stump that turned up in a trench line, are the ones most likely to happen without chaps.

How much of the leg?#

Washington's construction rule does not say where the protection must start and stop. It says it must protect the vulnerable areas of the legs.

The federal logging standard, which does not apply to construction, gives one clear benchmark. 29 CFR 1910.266(d)(1)(iv) requires leg protection constructed with cut-resistant material, such as ballistic nylon, that covers the full length of the thigh to the top of the boot on each leg, to protect against contact with a moving chain saw. That is a sensible way to judge whether a pair of chaps on a Washington construction site is actually covering what it needs to cover.

Who pays#

WAC 296-155-211 sits in Washington's construction PPE rules, and WAC 296-155-200 governs how PPE is provided. Under WAC 296-155-200(6), the employer must provide protective equipment at no cost to employees. The listed exceptions are nonspecialty safety-toe footwear and prescription safety eyewear that can be worn off the job, some metatarsal protection, everyday clothing, and ordinary weather gear. Chain saw leg protection is not one of them.

Under WAC 296-155-200(1), protective equipment must be maintained in a sanitary and reliable condition and be of safe design and construction for the work. If an employee provides their own, the employer is still responsible for making sure it is adequate, properly maintained, and sanitary.

Keep them in shape#

Leg protection that has already been cut, or that is torn, frayed, or soaked with fuel and oil, may no longer be "reliable" in the sense the PPE rule means. Follow the manufacturer's instructions on inspection, cleaning, and when to replace the chaps or pants. Under WAC 296-155-200(6), replacement PPE is also the employer's cost, unless the employee lost it or damaged it intentionally.

The saw itself#

WAC 296-155-350(4) requires hand-held powered tools such as circular saws, chain saws, and percussion tools to be equipped with a constant pressure switch that shuts off the power when the pressure is released. The federal construction rule, 29 CFR 1926.300, contains the same requirement for chain saws.

The rest of the operator's gear#

The leg protection rule does not stand alone. Other Washington construction PPE rules still apply to the person running the saw:

  • Footwear: under WAC 296-155-212, substantial footwear of leather or other equally firm material is required where there is danger of foot injury from falling or moving objects, cutting, or penetration, and canvas-top shoes, thin-soled athletic shoes, and similar shoes must not be worn.
  • Clothing: under WAC 296-155-200(2), employees must wear at least a short-sleeved shirt and long pants, and where they are exposed to moving machinery parts, their clothing must fit closely and they must not wear dangling neck wear, bracelets, wristwatches, rings, or similar articles.
  • Hearing: Washington's hearing loss prevention rule lists operating power saws, chippers, and fuel-powered hand tools among the indicators that noise exposure may reach 85 dBA over an eight-hour day, which triggers noise monitoring under WAC 296-817-20005.

Washington versus federal#

Federal construction rules have no chain saw leg protection requirement. The general construction PPE rule, 29 CFR 1926.95(a), requires protective equipment wherever it is necessary because of hazards capable of causing injury, but it does not mention chain saws or leg protection. The specific federal leg protection rule for chain saw operators is in the logging standard, 29 CFR 1910.266, which covers logging, not construction. Washington writes the requirement directly into its construction standard.

Where the duty sits#

WAC 296-155-211 requires leg protection for employees whose duties require them to operate a power chain saw. WAC 296-155-200 sets PPE condition, employee-owned PPE, minimum clothing, and payment. WAC 296-155-350(4) requires the constant pressure switch. WAC 296-155-212 sets footwear. For contrast, federal 29 CFR 1926.95(a) and the logging standard 29 CFR 1910.266(d)(1)(iv).

What can go wrong?#

  • A laborer grabs the saw "just for one cut" with no chaps on the truck.
  • The chaps hang from the operator's belt but don't reach the top of the boot.
  • A pair of chaps with a previous saw cut in them stays in service.
  • The saw's throttle switch is taped or wired down.
  • The operator wears running shoes because it's a short job.
  • The task plan lists the saw but not the leg protection.

How do we manage this properly?#

  • Chaps or protective pants for every operator — every cut, every time.
  • Keep a pair with the saw — so there is no reason to cut without them.
  • Check the coverage — thigh down to the top of the boot is a good benchmark.
  • Retire damaged leg protection — per the manufacturer.
  • Never defeat the constant pressure switch.
  • Boots, close-fitting clothes, no jewelry, hearing protection.

Before you start#

If today's work includes any chain saw cuts, decide who will run the saw, get the leg protection on that person before the saw starts, and check the chaps and the throttle switch.

Talk it over#

  • Who on this crew might run a chain saw today?
  • Where are the chaps kept, and are they in good condition?
  • What would you do if you were handed the saw without them?

The bottom line#

In Washington construction, anyone whose duties require them to run a power chain saw must wear ballistic nylon pads fastened into their trousers, or equivalent protection that covers the vulnerable areas of the legs. The employer provides it at no cost and keeps it reliable, the saw keeps its constant pressure switch, and the operator also wears proper boots and close-fitting clothes. Federal construction rules do not require chain saw leg protection. Washington does.

Frequently asked questions about Washington chainsaw leg protection#

Are chainsaw chaps required on Washington construction sites?

Yes. Under WAC 296-155-211, employees whose duties require them to operate a power chain saw must wear flexible ballistic nylon pads sewn or fastened into their trousers, or other equivalent protection for the vulnerable areas of the legs. Under WAC 296-155-200(6), the employer provides it at no cost.

Download the Washington chainsaw leg protection toolbox talk PDF#

Download this Washington Chainsaw Leg Protection Toolbox Talk as a printable PDF in English and Spanish, and keep a copy with the saw.

Related toolbox talks#

Sources#

Written by FieldSafetyTalk's safety professional — a CSP, ASP, CHST and OSHA Authorized Outreach Trainer with 14+ years of international construction safety experience across federal, heavy civil, and industrial projects.

Hazards covered

cutsppe
By Mustafa Tok, CSP, ASP, CHST

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