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Safety Precautions
(ANSI B 175.1-1985 Appendix D)
Safety Precautions
for Chain Saw Users
D 1. Kickback Safety Precautions
~ WARNING!: 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.
DTip contact in some cases may cause a lightning fast
reverse REACTION, kicking the guide bar up and
back towards the operator.
DPinching the saw chain along the top of the guide
bar may push the guide bar rapidly back towards the
operator.
DEither of these reactions may cause you to lose
control of the saw which could result in serious
personal injury.
Do not rely exclusively upon the safety devices built
into your saw. As a chain saw user, you should take
several steps to keep your cutting jobs free from
accident or injury.
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
With a basic understanding of kickback, you can
reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. Sudden
surprise contributes to accidents.
Keep a good firm grip on the saw with both hands,
the right hand on the rear handle, and the left hand
on the front handle, when the engine is running.
Use a firm grip with thumbs and fingers encircling
the chain saw handles. A firm grip will help you
reduce kickback and maintain control of the saw.
Don’t let go.
Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is
free from obstacles. Do not let the nose of the guide
bar contact a log, branch, or any other obstruction
that could be hit while you are operating the saw.
Cut at high engine speeds.
Do not overreach or cut above shoulder height.
Follow manufacturer’s sharpening and maintenance
instructions for the saw chain.
Only use replacement bars and chains specified by
the manufacturer or the equivalent.
D 2. Other Safety Precautions
(I) Do notoperatea chain saw with one hand! Serious
mju to the operator, helpers, bystanders, or any
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com inations of these persons may result from one-
handed operation. A chain saw is intended for two-
handed use.
(2) Do not operate a chain saw when you are fatigued.
(3) Use safety footwear; snug-fitting clothing;
protective
gloves; and eye, hearing, and head protection
devices.
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
(8)
(9)
(lo)
(11)
(12)
(13)
(14)
(15)
(16)
(17)
(18)
(19)
Use caution when handling fuel. Move the chain
saw at least 10 feet (3 m) from the fueling point
before starting the engine.
Do not allow other persons to be near the chain
saw when starting or cutting with the chain saw.
Keep bystanders and animals out of the work area.
Do not start cutting until you have a clear work
area, secure footing, and a planned retreat path
from the falling tree.
Keep all parts of your body away from the saw
chain when the engine is running.
Before you start the engine, make sure that the saw
chain is not contacting anything.
Carry the chain saw with the engine stopped, the
guide bar and saw chain to the rear, and the muffler
away from your body.
Do not operate a chain saw that is damaged,
improperly adjusted, or not completely and securely
assembled. Be sure that the saw chain stops
moving when the throttle control trigger is released.
Shut off the engine before setting the chain saw
down.
Use extreme caution when cutting small size brush
and saplings because slender material may catch
the saw chain and be whipped toward you or pull
you off balance.
When cutting a limb that is under tension be alert
for springback so that you will not be struck when
the tension in the wood fibers is released.
Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil or fuel
mixture.
Operate the chain saw only in well-ventilated areas.
Do not operate a chain saw in a tree unless you
have been specifically trained to do so.
Do not operate a chain saw above shoulder height.
All chain saw service, other than the items listed in
the operator’s/owner’s safety and maintenance
instructions, should be performed by competent
chain saw service personnel. (For example, if
improper tools are used to remove the flywheel or if
an improper tool is used to hold the flywheel in
order to remove the clutch, structural damage to the
fly-wheel could occur and subsequently cause the
flywheel to burst.)
When transporting your chain saw, use the approp-
riate guide bar scabbard.
Note: This Annex is intended primarily for the consu-
mer or occasional user.
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For further safety precautions and basic cutting operations see: Operator’s Safety Manual.
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