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5 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
– Place your left hand on the front handle and your
right hand on the rear handle (see illustration). Left-
handers must follow these instructions too.
– Wrap your fingers tightly around the handles,
keeping the handles cradled between your thumb
and forefinger.
– Position the chain saw in such a way that all parts of
your body are clear of the cutting attachment
whenever the engine is running. Stand to the left of
the cut while bucking, outside of the cutting plane
(see illustration).
– Read and follow all warnings and instructions in the
chapter Kickback and Reactive Forces, @ 6.
■ Operating the chain saw with one hand is extremely
dangerous. One-handed operation makes it difficult to
oppose and absorb reactive forces (pushback, pull-in,
kickback) without losing control of the chain saw. It also
makes it difficult to prevent the bar and chain from skating
or bouncing along a limb or log. To reduce the risk of
serious or fatal injury to the operator or bystanders from
loss of control:
■ To reduce the risk of serious or fatal cut injuries to the
operator or bystanders from loss of control, keep proper
footing and balance at all times:
– Take special care in overgrown or wet terrain and
always watch for hidden obstacles such as tree
stumps, roots, rocks, holes and ditches to avoid
stumbling or falling.
– Be extremely cautious when working on slopes or
uneven ground.
– For better footing, always clear away fallen
branches, scrub and cuttings. Freshly debarked logs
and other material can increase the danger of
slipping, tripping or falling.
– Use extreme caution when cutting small-size brush,
branches and saplings because slender material
may catch the chain and spring toward you or pull
you off balance.
■ To reduce the risk of injury from loss of control:
– Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance
at all times.
– Never attempt to start or accelerate the engine when
the guide bar is in a cut or kerf. Doing so could lead
to reactive forces and injury. Instead, remove the
guide bar from the cut and re-enter the cut at full
throttle, taking care to avoid contacting any object
with the tip of the guide bar.
■ The bumper spike is designed to provide greater control
of the chain saw while cutting. If you work without the
bumper spike, the chain saw may pull you forward
suddenly. This could cause loss of control or, if the tip of
the guide bar strikes an object, kickback.
– Position the bumper spike against the material you
are cutting and use it as a fulcrum.
– Always work with the bumper spike to maintain
better control of the saw.
■ Applying pressure to the chain saw when reaching the end
of a cut may cause the bar and rotating chain to accelerate
out of the kerf, go out of control and strike the operator or
some other object. To reduce the risk of injury:
– Use caution when approaching the end of a cut.
– Never put pressure on the chain saw when reaching
the end of a cut.
– Always hold the chain saw firmly with
both hands when you are working.
– Never attempt to operate the chain saw
with one hand.
– Never work on a ladder, roof, in a tree or
while standing on any other insecure
support.
– Never operate the chain saw above
shoulder height.