SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
H Bar
Check regularly:
•Whether there are burrs on the edges of the bar. Remove these with a file if necessary.
•Whether the groove in the bar has become badly worn. Replace the bar if necessary.
•Whether the tip of the bar is uneven or badly worn. If a
hollow forms on one side of the bar tip this is due to a slack chain.
•To prolong the life of the bar you should turn it over daily.
MOST CHAIN SAW ACCIDENTS HAPPEN WHEN THE CHAIN TOUCHES THE OPERA- TOR.
•WEAR PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (see the section on ”Chain saw safety equipment”).
•DO NOT TACKLE ANY JOB YOU ARE UNSURE OF (see the section on ”Personal protective equipment”, ”How to avoid kickback”, ”General working instructions” and ”Cutting equipment”).
•AVOID SITUATIONS WHERE THERE IS A RISK OF KICKBACK (see the section on ”Personal protective equipment”).
•USE THE RECOMMENDED SAFETY EQUIPMENT AND CHECK ITS CONDITION (see section on ”General working instructions”).
•CHECK THAT ALL SAFETY FUNCTIONS ARE WORKING (see section on ”General working instructions” and ”General precautions”).
HOW TO AVOID KICKBACK
Kickback can happen very suddenly and violently; kicking the saw, bar and chain back at the user. If this happens when the chain is moving it can cause very serious, even fatal injuries. It is vital you understand what causes kickback and that you can avoid it by taking care and using the right working technique.
What is kickback?
The word kickback is used to describe the sudden reaction that happens when the upper quadrant of the tip of the bar (known as the “kickback zone”) touches an object and the saw is kicked backwards.
Kickback always occurs in the cutting plane of the saw. Normally the saw and bar are thrown backwards and upwards towards the user. However the saw may move in a different direction depending on the way it was being used when the kickback zone of the bar touched the object.
Kickback only occurs if the kickback zone of the bar touches an object.
16 – English