STIHL Australia has stepped up its commitment to Chainsaw Safety Week, partnering with Timbersports champion Laurence O’Toole.
In 2026 Chainsaw Safety Week runs from June 14 to June 19, and while safety precautions should never be relaxed around power tools, the potential severity of chainsaw injuries justifies highlighting their correct use and the importance of chainsaw-specific PPE.
Who could be better prepared to speak to the arbor industry about those things than a qualified arborist who’s also a world-champion woodchopper, Hot Saw competitor, and two-stroke tuning specialist?
That’s Laurence O’Toole, STIHL’s 2026 Chainsaw Safety Week ambassador.
In a good place
Based in Preston, Victoria, Level 3 arborist and third-generation timber worker O’Toole owns and operates O’Toole Tree Solutions. The Australian Arbor Age caught up with the Timbersports champ on a busy workday when he took the time to down tools and chat about his work and passion for chainsaw safety.
“My father had a business and I started working for him in the 1980s,” he said. “Since then I’ve always worked for him. I finished school and did my Cert 3, and now Dad’s retired and I run the business.
“It’s starting to ramp up a fair bit. My woodchopping has taken a bit of a back seat.”
While the business does take a fair slice of O’Toole’s time, he’s still a world-class competitor with both axe and chainsaw and has to balance his commitments.
“O’Toole Tree Solutions has been running 40 years and it’s the best job I could have,” he told The Australian Arbor Age. “Working in arbor lets me go chopping around the world and come and go as I need to. I’m not pushing to expand the business too much because I still like to get away and chop and I don’t want too much stress in my life.”
Ambassador
Busy he may be, but O’Toole can find time for chainsaw-related activities, especially when it comes to their safe and correct use.
“I actually asked STIHL for the ambassador’s job,” he said.
“STIHL has always had sports-celebrity representation, and I suggested instead of footballers or other sports people, maybe I could do it. I thought my arborist and competition background would be suitable. I suggested I could talk from a hands-on point of view, and I’ve experienced a lot of scary things with chainsaws. I have a personal belief that it’s an important topic.”
Observations
With a lifetime in tree work and with chainsaws, we wondered what safety trends had caught O’Toole’s eye. PPE came up straight away.
“The younger generation are great with PPE and safety,” he said, “but a lot of the older people aren’t so much. My dad never wore chainsaw pants in his whole life. He still doesn’t. He comes to work with me and I’m like, ‘C’mon, Dad.’”
And while the professional user is at risk and needs to be as careful and aware as anyone else, O’Toole wants the amateurs to pay attention to the STIHL Chainsaw Week message as well.
“How many times have you seen typical Aussie blokes cutting firewood wearing shorts and a singlet and no chainsaw protection?” he offered. “They have no fear. A chainsaw is a dangerous piece of equipment. It’s almost like anyone can buy one and you’re away.
“You have to be certified to enter a chainsaw competition, but a domestic user can go buy a chainsaw and use it in the backyard, even if they’ve never used one before. Those people need to be made aware of the protocols and practices that could avoid serious injury.”
When we asked about O’Toole’s thoughts on electric chainsaws, his focus was clear: “Petrol or electric, the risks are the same.”
On top of the world
O’Toole’s an international celebrity in his own right in the world of woodchopping, and the Timbersports’ Chopperoos catapulted him into the public eye and led to him rethinking some of his competition priorities.
We asked how that step came about.
“I was already chopping here in Australia and already had a world championship,” he said. “I saw Timbersports in America and thought it was a bit flashy and a bit ‘TV-ish’, and I wasn’t a big fan of the Hot Saw discipline.
“But things progressed, and I’m now one of the world’s foremost Hot Saw builders and I’ve won some of the biggest international Hot Saw events. The chainsaw disciplines are now my favourites.
“I started in the US series before Timbersports came to Australia. Several of us were chosen from there to kick off an Australian series, which has now gone global.
“It was a transition into something new and exciting for me.”
The right equipment
There must’ve been plenty of opportunity to trial and assess other makes of equipment during a stellar international career, but O’Toole is firm in his allegiance to STIHL.
“I can tell you in all honesty why I use STIHL,” he said. “It’s because my dad used it before me and we never had a problem with STIHL equipment in the business. We’ve always had a great run and always stayed true.”
And the main message on chainsaw safety?
“Know your abilities to start with, and have the right tool for the job,” he said. “Make sure your equipment is well maintained. If your gear’s up to scratch and everything’s good, it’s a good start. After that, think safety the whole time.”
For more information on Chainsaw Safety Week, educational videos featuring Laurence O’Toole, or to find your local STIHL dealer, visit stihl.com.au.
O’Toole’s chainsaw safety rules
* Suit up for survival: Never cut without the essentials. This includes cut-retardant chainsaw chaps or trousers, steel-capped boots, heavy-duty gloves, and a safety helmet equipped with a face visor and hearing protection.
* Beware the kickback zone: Kickback happens in a fraction of a second when the upper tip of the guide bar hits an object. Always maintain a firm, two-handed grip and ensure the chainsaw’s chain brake is fully functional.
*Keep it sharp: A dull chain is a dangerous chain because it forces the operator to apply excessive pressure. Let the saw do the work. Ensure your chain is properly sharpened and tensioned before every use.
* Clear the drop zone: Always ensure you have a clear, safe retreat path before felling a tree, and never operate a chainsaw above shoulder height or while standing on a ladder.
