Safety Manual

24
ENGLISH
OPERATOR SAFETY
Key safety and Risk Prevention Rules
DANGER! KICKBACK may occur when the nose
or tip of the guide bar touches an object, or when the
wood closes in and pinches the saw chain in the cut.
Tip contact in some cases may cause a lightning-fast
reverse reaction, kicking the guide bar up and back
toward the operator (this is called a rotational kickback).
Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar
may push the guide bar rapidly back toward the operator
(this is called a linear kickback). Either of these reactions
may cause you to lose control of the saw and come
in contact with the moving chain, which could result in
serious or fatal injuries.
IF the optional Kick Guard
TM
anti-kickback device is not
installed on your chain saw, you cannot rely on the other
devices built into your saw. As a chain saw user, you
must take the steps necessary to keep your cutting jobs
free from accident or injury. With a basic understanding
of kickback, you can reduce or eliminate the element
of surprise. Sudden surprise contributes to accidents.
Understand that rotational kickback is preventable by
keeping an unshielded bar nose from touching a solid
object, wherever it may be positioned.
SAFE OPERATION
Stand with your weight on both feet. Adjust your stance
so as to be away from the saw chain and the line of
cutting. When the saw is used without the optional Kick
Guard device, the cutting line becomes the potential path
of a rotational kickback.
WARNING! Do not operate a chain saw with
one hand! Serious injury to the operator, helpers, or
bystanders may result from one-handed operation. For
proper control, always use two hands when operating
a chain saw. Never operate the saw with only the hand
that operates the throttle trigger. This can result in the
chain saw “skating” or skidding, which can result in
personal injury due to loss of control.
Always keep a good rm grip on the saw with both hands, with the right hand
on the rear handle and the left hand on the front handle, when the engine
is running. Use a rm grip with thumbs and ngers encircling the chain saw
handles. A rm grip will help you to better position the saw to reduce kickback
and to maintain control of the saw. Do not let go. Two hands must be used
to control the saw at all times. Always assure proper footing when cutting to
prevent slips or falls. Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is free
from obstructions. Do not let the unshielded bar nose contact a log, branch, or
any other obstruction which could be hit while you are operating the saw.
Cutting at high engine speeds may reduce the likelihood of kickback. But
cutting at part-throttle or low engine speeds may be preferable to control the
chain saw in tight situations and may also reduce the likelihood of kickback.
FIRM TWO-
HANDED GRIP
FIRM ENCIRCLING
GRIP
DON’T ALLOW
TIP CONTACT
DON’T OPERATE
ONE-HANDED