Rules for Safe Operation, To Avoid Kickback

RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION

1.Fatigue causes carelessness. Be more cautious before rest periods and before the end of your shift.

2.Personal protective clothing required by your safety organizations, government regulations, or your employer should be used; otherwise, sung fitting clothing, protective eyewear, safety footwear and hand, leg and hearing protection should be worn.

Note: Personal protective clothing should meet the requirements of applicable Standards.

3.Before fueling, servicing or transporting your chain saw switch off the engine. To help prevent fire, restart your chain saw at least 3 m from the fueling area.

4.When using a chain saw a fire extinguisher should be available.

5.When felling, keep at least 2 tree lengths between yourself and your fellow workers.

6.Plan your work; assure yourself of an obstacle-free work area and, in the case of felling, of an escape path from the falling tree.

7.Follow instructions in your operator’s manual for starting the chain saw and control the chain saw with a firm grip on both handles when it is in operation. Keep handles dry, clean and free of oil. A chain saw should never be carried with the engine running.

8.When transporting your chain saw, use the appropriate transportation covers that should be available for the guide bar and saw chain.

9.Never operate a chain saw that is damaged, improperly adjusted, or is not completely and securely assembled. Be sure that the saw chain stops moving when the throttle control trigger is released. Never adjust the guide bar or saw chain when the engine operating.

10.Beware of carbon monoxide poisoning. Operate the chain saw in well-ventilated areas only.

11.Do not attempt a pruning or liming operation in a standing tree unless specifically trained to do so.

12.Guard against kickback. Kickback is the upward motion of the guide bar, which occurs when the saw chain, at the nose of the guide bar, contact an object. Kickback can lead to dangerous loss of the chain saw.

TO AVOID KICKBACK:

(a)Contact of the guide bar tip with any object should be avoided.

(b)Tip contact may cause the guide bar to move suddenly upward and backward which may cause serious injury.

(c)Always use two hands when operating the chain saw.

(d)Use a firm grip, thumbs and fingers encircling the handles.

(e)Don’t overreach.

(f)Avoid cutting above shoulder height.

(g)Follow the manufacture’s instructions for sharpening and maintenance of the saw chain.

13.When boring with the chain saw, the initial cut should be introduced with the lower part of the nose (tip) until the hole is sufficiently large so as to introduce the entire nose (tip) of the guide bar. This technique should reduce the danger of kickback.

14.A chain saw is intended for two-handed use. Serious injury to the operator, helpers and/or bystanders may result from one-handed operation.

CAUTION

A.Allow your chain saw to cool before refueling, and do not smoke while refueling.

B.Do not allow other persons or animals close to running chain saw or close to where a tree is being felled.

C.Use extreme caution when cutting small size brush and saplings because slender material may catch the saw chain and be whipped toward you.

D.When cutting a limb that is under tension is alert for spring-back.