According to the CDC, 36,000 people are treated in hospital emergency rooms annually for chainsaw injuries. OSHA reports that more than 250 people per yer die from chainsaw accidents. The financial cost of chainsaw injuries is over $350 million per year. Kentucky is a heavily forested state and Letcher County is in the most forested portion of the state, so our clientele have a higher likelihood of chainsaw risks.

To address the topic, the Letcher County Extension Ag and Natural Resources Program partnered with Master Logger trainer and three time world champion sawyer, Mike Sullivan, Letcher County Farm Bureau Federation and County Agriculture & Natural Resources agents in Floyd, Harlan and Floyd Counties to offer a two-part, full-day chainsaw safety course to operators. The classes were each a half-day in the classroom and a half-day in the field where participants operated saws one-on-one with the instructor. The classes were arranged to target partly a train the trainer as well as anyone who would benefit from training in safe operation techniques. Sixteen participants completed the trainings. 

Class participants lauded the program as among the best hands-on they have attended and were highly complimentary of the importance of the training and how difficult it is to find someone to teach such a class. 100% of participants reported in surverys their intention to implement the safe operating techniques they were taught, adding comments such as, “The material in this workshop will save people from injury or even death.” 

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.