"Not Just Traffic Accidents" Rapid Increase in Chainsaw Safety Accidents Among the Elderly

Consumer Agency Reports 356 Cases in 3 Years from Consumer Harm Monitoring System... 57.6% Aged 60 and Above

Status of Safety Accidents Related to Chainsaws by Age Group.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chunhan] As chainsaws are widely used in households and farms, frequent safety accidents occur among the elderly aged 60 and above, requiring caution. Previously, the Korea Automobile Research Institute announced that traffic accidents involving elderly drivers aged 65 and over increased by 2.4 percentage points from 2016 to last year, reaching 114,795 cases, suggesting that the elderly need to be more careful when handling machinery and equipment.

On the 23rd, the Korea Consumer Agency revealed that a total of 356 safety accidents related to chainsaws were reported to the Consumer Hazard Surveillance System from 2018 to 2020. In particular, last year alone, 189 cases occurred, nearly double the 100 cases reported the previous year. By age group, those aged 60 and above accounted for 205 cases (57.6%), those in their 50s 95 cases (26.7%), and those in their 40s 34 cases (9.6%), showing that the frequency of accidents increased with age.

The injured body parts were primarily the arms and hands (49.4%), hips, legs, and feet (44.1%), followed by the head and face (4.5%). Symptoms were mostly lacerations (86.8%), with some cases of severe injuries such as amputations (3.7%) and fractures (3.3%). Many accidents occurred due to the "kickback" phenomenon, where the rapidly spinning blade suddenly jumps when it contacts an object, or when clothing or gloves get caught in the saw blade. Accident locations were mainly residences (67.1%), natural and related facilities (15.9%), and agricultural, fishery, and livestock areas (10.4%).

The Consumer Agency urged users to always wear protective gear when using chainsaws and to avoid wearing loose clothing or accessories. They also advised thoroughly reading the user manual before operating the chainsaw and frequently checking the surrounding environment within the work radius.

Meanwhile, the Korea Automobile Research Institute reported that the proportion of licensed drivers aged 65 and over in South Korea increased from 8.0% in 2016 to 11.1% last year, and that traffic accidents caused by this group reached 114,795 cases last year, accounting for 10.5% of all traffic accidents. The rate of traffic accidents among the elderly rose by 2.4 percentage points compared to 8.1% in 2016.