Table of Contents
Chainsaws
Last Updated: December 2019
Prepared by CCOHS
Listed below is selected legislation from across Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions concerning the safe use of chainsaws in the workplace. Since legislation interpretation and enforcement varies by jurisdiction, contact your jurisdiction as listed in Canadian Governmental Occupational Health & Safety Departments (https://www.ccohs.ca/oshanswers/information/govt.html).
This list is prepared by CCOHS as part of the Canadian enviroOSH Legislation service . This service is a comprehensive and easy to search compilation of the full text of Canadian health, safety and environmental legislation and critical guidelines and codes of practice from all jurisdictions. All the legislation is compiled into one convenient location and is regularly updated with amendments highlighted.
Subscribers to this service and paid learners of the CCOHS e-courses have access to the full text of the legislation listed in this document. To become a subscriber please contact Client Services .
Canada
As made under the Canada Labour Code, (Part II - Occupational Safety and Health), R.S.C. 1985, c. L-2
Canada Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/86-304
Part XIII Tools and Machinery
Section 13.2 Design, Construction Operation and Use of Tools
Sections 13.9 - 13.10 Defective Tools and Machines
Sections 13.11 - 13.12 Instructions and Training
Section 13.13 General Requirements for Machine Guards
Sections 13.14 - 13.17 Use, Operation, Repair and Maintenance of Machine Guards
Canada - Newfoundland and Labrador Offshore Marine Installations and Structures Occupational Health and Safety Transitional Regulations SOR/2015-1
Part 13 Tools and Machinery
Sections 189 - 192 and 195 Design, Construction Operation and Use of Tools
Sections 196 - 197 Defective Tools and Machines
Sections 198 - 199 Instructions and Training
Section 200 General Requirements for Machine Guards
Sections 201 - 203 Use, Operation, Repair and Maintenance of Machine Guards
Part 13 Tools and Machinery
Sections 189 - 192 and 195 Design, Construction Operation and Use of Tools
Sections 196 - 197 Defective Tools and Machines
Sections 198 - 199 Instructions and Training
Section 200 General Requirements for Machine Guards
Sections 201 - 203 Use, Operation, Repair and Maintenance of Machine Guards
Marine Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/87-183
Section 203 Design, Construction and Operation of Tools
Section 204 Defective Tools and Machinery
Section 205 Training and Instruction
Section 206 General Requirements for Protective Guards
Section 207 Use, Operation, Repair and Maintenance of Machines
Oil and Gas Occupational Safety and Health Regulations, SOR/87-612
Part XIV Tools and Machinery
Section 14.2 Design, Construction, Operation and Use of Tools
Sections 14.9 - 14.10 Defective Tools and Machines
Sections 14.11 - 14.12 Instructions and Training
Section 14.13 General Requirements for Machine Guards
Sections 14.13 - 14.16 Use, Operation, Repair and Maintenance of Machine Guards
Alberta
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.A. 2017, c. O‑2.1,
Occupational Health and Safety Code 2009
Part 25 Tools, Equipment and Machinery
Section 362 Contact by clothing, etc.
Section 367 Operator responsibilities
British Columbia
As made under the Workers' Compensation Act, R.S.B.C. 1996, c. 492,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulation, B.C. Reg. 296/97
Part 8 Personal Protective Clothing and Equipment
Schedule 8-A WorkSafeBC Standard - Leg Protective Devices
Part 12 Tools, Machinery and Equipment
General Requirements
Section 12.2 Safeguarding requirement
Section 12.4 Effectiveness of safeguards
Section 12.10 Identifying unsafe equipment
Section 12.11 Operating controls
Chain Saws
Section 12.73 Stopping chain movement
3 - Personal Protective Equipment
Section 28.22 Chain saws exception
Manitoba
As made under the Workplace Safety and Health Act, R.S.M. 1987, c. W210,
Workplace Safety and Health Regulation, Man. Reg. 217/2006
Part 6 Personal Protective Equipment
Specific Types of Personal Protective Equipment
Part 16 Machines, Tools and Robots
Section 16.2 Safe work procedures
Section 16.3 Duty to inform workers
Section 16.4 Machine and tool safety
Section 16.5 Safeguards required
Section 16.6 Alternative mechanism
Section 16.7 Removing a safeguard
Section 16.8 Operating controls
Section 16.10 Starting a machine
Section 16.25 Hand or portable power tools
Section 16.27 Chain saw requirements
New Brunswick
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, A.N.B. 1983, c. O-0.2,
General Regulation - Occupational Health and Safety Act, N.B. Reg. 91-191
Section 80 General Duties of an Owner
Section 81 General Duties of an Employer
Section 82 General Duties of a User of a Tool
Sections 83 - 86 Portable Power-Operated Hand Tools
Part XXI Logging and Silviculture Operations
Sections 348 - 356 Chain Saws, Brush Saws and Clearing Saws
See also:
The Forest Professional - guidelines for the Stewards of tomorrow’s forests, Fifth Edition
Newfoundland and Labrador
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.N.L. 1990, c. O-3,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 2012, N.L.R. 5/12
Part VII Personal Protective Equipment
Part VIII Machinery and Equipment
Section 88 Safe machinery and equipment
Section 89 General requirements
Section 92 Identifying unsafe equipment
See also:
The Forest Professional - guidelines for the Stewards of tomorrow’s forests, Fifth Edition
Northwest Territories
As made under the Safety Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c.S-1,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, R-039-2015
Section 141 Manufacturer’s specifications
Section 142 Operation by worker
Section 143 Operating controls
Section 144 Unattended and suspended machines
See also:
Personal Protective Equipment Foot Protection Code of Practice (Effective June 1, 2015)
Nova Scotia
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, S.N.S. 1996, c. 7,
Occupational Safety General Regulations, N.S. Reg. 44/99
Part 3 Personal Protective Equipment
Section 10 Hazard to eyes, face or neck
Sections 104 - 107 General provisions
See also:
The Forest Professional - guidelines for the Stewards of tomorrow’s forests, Fifth Edition
Nunavut
As made under the Safety Act, R.S.N.W.T. 1988, c. S-1,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations R-003-2016
Section 141 Manufacturer’s specifications
Section 142 Operation by worker
Section 143 Operating controls
Section 144 Unattended and suspended machines
See also:
Personal Protective Equipment Foot Protection Code of Practice (Effective May 31, 2016)
Ontario
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. O.1,
Construction Projects, O. Reg. 213/9
Equipment, General
Industrial Establishments, R.R.O. 1990, Reg. 851
Machine Guarding
Prince Edward Island
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.P.E.I. 1988, c. O-1.01 (new version brought in by 2004, c. 42),
Occupational Health and Safety Act General Regulations, EC 180/87
Section 41.15 Chain saw maintenance
Section 41.16 Stopping saw when carrying
Section 41.25 Felling procedure
See also:
The Forest Professional - guidelines for the Stewards of tomorrow’s forests, Fifth Edition
Quebec
As made under the Act respecting occupational health and safety, R.S.Q., c.S-2.1,
Regulation respecting occupational health and safety, CQLR c. S-2.1, r. 13 O.C. 885-2001
Division XXII Hand Tools and Portable Power Tools
Section 228 Inspection and maintenance
Section 229 Storage of hand tools
Section 236 Position of trigger
Section 239 Protectors and protective devices
Section 240 Safety precautions
Section 242 Conditions for using a chain saw
Division IV - Forest Development Equipment
§2. Hand tools and portable power tools
Sections 13 - 18
Division V - Forest Development Work
§1. Hand felling
Sections 27 - 32 and 43
Division VI - Individual Protective Equipment and Temporary Shelter
Sections 45 - 49
Safety Code for the Construction Industry, CQLR c. S-2.1, r. 4
Division II General Provisions
Section 2.10.10 Protection of hands
Division III Construction Sites
Section 3.10.17 Internal combustion motor
Saskatchewan
As made under the Saskatchewan Employment Act, S.S. 2013, c. S-15.1,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, 1996, S.S., c. O-1.1, Reg 1
Section 134 Operation by workers
Section 135 Operating controls
Section 136 Unattended and suspended machines
Yukon
As made under the Occupational Health and Safety Act, R.S.Y. 2002, c. 159,
Occupational Health and Safety Regulations, O.I.C. 2006/178
Protective Equipment and Clothing - Skin, Leg and Body
Part 4 Hand Tools and Power Driven Portable Tools
General
Section 4.03 Worker's responsibilities for tool use
Section 4.04 Work in explosive atmosphere
Section 4.08 Portable electric tools
Section 4.09 Repairs or adjustment
Chain Saws
Section 4.10 General requirements for chain saws
Section 4.11 Specific requirements
Standards
CSA Standard Z62.1-15 Chain saws
CSA Standard Z62.1-M85 Chain Saws
CSA Standard Z62.1-95 Chain Saws (R2001)
CSA Standard Z62.1-03 Chain Saws (R2008)
CSA Standard Z62.1-11 Chain saws
CSA Standard Z62.3-11 Chain saw kickback
CSA Standard Z62.3-96 Chain Saw Kickback Occupational Health and Safety