WorkSafeBC Home

Developing upper body protection for arborists

This project aimed to design and evaluate upper body chainsaw protection for urban arborists, focusing on comfort, range of motion, thermal load, arc/flash protection, and high visibility for groundwork. Using a user-centered iterative design process, five prototypes were developed, with feedback from arborists and apparel manufacturers integrated at each stage. Prototype 5 incorporated polyaramide chainsaw protective padding, arc-rated and flame-resistant (AR/FR) textiles, and high-visibility colors with retroflective stripes. Tested for compliance with ISO 11363-6:2018, Prototype 5 met Class 2 protection standards, stopping a chainsaw with a chain speed of 24 m/s, which is superior to existing products. However, the non-protective side panels did not fully comply with dimensional requirements. Existing commercial products lack AR/FR protection and do not meet Class 2 standards, making Prototype 5 a significant improvement. Further design development is needed to address testing deficiencies and thermal ventilation challenges before pursuing commercialization.

Principal Applicant: Daniel Robinson (Kwantlen Polytechnic University)
Co-Applicants: Shawn Michaels (Kwantlen Polytechnic University); Evelyn May (Kwantlen Polytechnic University)
Funding Awarded: $44,200 (Innovation at Work)

Competition Year: 2018 File type: PDF (296 KB) Asset type: Research Research: RS2018-IG33