Chainsaw size for delimbing

New Zealand loggers commonly use chainsaws weighing up to 10 kg. Chainsaw work is both physically arduous and potentially dangerous. A contributing factor to the high injury rate of loggers could be the high physiological and biomechanical load of chainsaw work. This study investigated the comparative cardiovascular strain imposed on 11 chainsaw operators when delimbing (cutting branches) with chainsaws of small, medium and large capacity under controlled conditions. Chainsaw operator cardiovascular strain increased with greater chainsaw weight and was associated with two chainsaw operator anthropometric dimensions (arm length and bent elbow height).