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The U.S. Forest Service distributed a safety advisory last summer regarding the need to upgrade chain-saw chaps for three reasons—to increase the coverage/width protection for the lower legs to 14 inches, to increase cut-through resistance to a chain speed of no less than 3,200 feet per minute, and to provide thermal protection for fire fighting.

After consultation with the Forest Service, this direction has been adapted specifically for A.T. sawyers, who are not involved in fire-fighting activities. A.T. sawyers Trail-wide should check the label in their chaps and make sure they meet the following specifications:

ASTM F1897-08
ASTM F1897-04
USFS 6170-4F

[Note: some manufacturers do not include F in the spec number for ASTM chaps.]

We would appreciate hearing from all A.T. sawyers whether or not your chaps meet the current standards listed above, or if they need to be replaced based on their condition. Please complete this survey - your certification card will help answer some of the questions. All questions require and answer, if you don't know the answer, please respond "don't know" or some other comment as appropriate. There will be no cost to Appalachian Trail clubs and sawyers to replace substandard or damaged chaps.

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* 1. What is your name?

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* 2. What club do you belong to?

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* 3. What is the date of your most recent certification? Please use this format to enter the date: MM/DD/YYYY

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* 4. What is your certification level?

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* 5. What was the name of your instructor?

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* 6. What was the location of your sawyer certification workshop?

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* 7. On average, how many days per year do you use your saw on the Appalachian Trail?

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* 8. Do your chaps meet ASTM F 1897-08 or ASTM F 1897-04 or USFS 6170-4F? Check the appropriate box regarding your chap specifications/condition:

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* 9. If you have questions or comments, please enter them here.

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