Pole Saws & Pole Pruners

A pole saw lets you cut branches overhead without a ladder, but it puts a spinning chain on the end of a long pole, over your head, next to trees that can have power lines. Falling branches, kickback and contact with wires injure and kill homeowners and tree workers every year.

• Landscapers
• Tree Workers
• Homeowners
• Property Maintenance

Types

• Battery and corded electric pole saws: quiet, lighter, good for small limbs.
• Gas pole saws: more power and range, with exhaust and vibration.
• Manual pole pruners: a pole with a curved saw or lopper head.
• Telescoping poles that extend to 10 to 15 feet or more, creating tall reach and heavy leverage. See Trimming & Removing Trees at Home.

Main hazards

• Electrocution: contact between the pole or branch and a power line. Metal and wet poles conduct, and even fiberglass poles can carry current when dirty or wet. Stay at least 10 feet from lines and treat all lines as live. See Overhead Power Lines.
• Falling branches and debris that strike your head, shoulders or bystanders.
• Kickback and chain contact if the bar tip hits a branch or the chain binds. See Chainsaws.
• Overreaching and fatigue: holding a long saw overhead strains the neck, shoulders and back, and dropping the saw is easy. See Overhead Work & Shoulder Strain.
• Noise and fumes from gas models. Fuel fire when refueling.
• Sawdust and debris in the eyes falling straight down.
• Trips and falls while looking up and backing away.

Safe use

• Look up first: check for power and service lines, dead limbs, wasp nests and hazards. Don't work near lines. Call the utility or a qualified line-clearance tree service.
• Wear a hard hat or helmet with a face shield, safety glasses, hearing protection, gloves, long sleeves and sturdy boots. See Chainsaw PPE.
• Set a drop zone and keep people and pets out. Plan where the branch will fall and your escape path. Stand to the side, not directly under the cut.
• Hold the saw with both hands and keep it away from your body. Start the saw on the ground before lifting. Keep your head clear of the line of the pole.
• Make small cuts in sections for large limbs, and use the proper undercut/top cut sequence so the bark doesn't tear. Don't cut branches thicker than the saw's rating.
• Take breaks and don't work when tired. Don't use it on a ladder.
• Keep the chain sharp and oiled, check tension and fuel outdoors with the engine off. Store with a bar cover, battery removed and cord unplugged. See Battery Safety.

Pole saw checklist

• I checked for power lines and stayed at least 10 feet away
• I wear a helmet with face shield, eye and hearing protection and gloves
• The drop zone is clear and I'm not standing under the cut
• I hold the saw with both hands and take breaks
• The chain is sharp and oiled and the saw is stored safely

Last updated: October 8, 2026