Stihl TS 350 - Reactive Forces and Safety Warnings; Understanding Reactive Forces; Avoiding Loss of Control; General Safety Warnings

These reactive forces may result in the
operator losing control of the cut-off
machine, which may, in turn, result in
serious or fatal injury.
An understanding of the causes of these
reactive forces may help you avoid loss
of control. Reactive forces are exerted in
a direction opposite to the direction in
which the wheel is moving at the point of
contact or pinch.
Pull-away, climbing and rotational
forces.
The most common reactive forces are
pull-away and climbing. If the contact is
at the bottom of the wheel, a cut-off
machine will try to pull away from the
operator (pull-away). If the contact is at
the front of the wheel, the wheel may
attempt to climb the object being cut
(climbing). If the wheel is severely
pinched at the front, the wheel may be
instantly thrown up and back towards
the operator with a great force in a
rotational motion. The greater the force
generated, the more difficult it will be for
the operator to control the cut-off
machine. Any of the reactive forces can,
in some circumstances, cause the
operator to lose control of a cut-off
machine, allowing the rotating wheel to
come into contact with the operator.
Severe personal injury or death can
result.
Use only cutting attachment authorized
by STIHL. 1HYHUuse chipped abrasive
wheels, circular saw blades, carbide
tipped blades, rescue blades or wood-
abrasive or toothed blades of any nature
on a cut-off machine. The use of such
wheels or blades will greatly increase
the risk of loss of control and severe
personal injury or death from reactive
forces, since the chipped section of an
abrasive wheel, or the teeth of a saw
blade may catch in the material being
cut and generate substantially greater
reactive forces.
Cut-off machines are designed for use
with abrasive wheels in good condition
RQO\Machines designed for use with
wood-abrasive or other toothed blades
use different types of guarding systems
which provide the protection neccessary
for those types of blades. Machines,
such as a cut-off machine, which are
designed for use with abrasive wheels,
require a different guarding system
which is not designed to provide protec-
tion against all dangers presented by
circular saw blades, carbide-tipped
blades, rescue blades or wood-abrasive
or toothed blades of any nature.
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To reduce the risk of injury from loss of
control or from the shattering of an
abrasive wheel:
1. Hold the cut-off machine firmly with
both hands.
2. Maintain good balance and footing at
all times. Never cut while standing
on a ladder.
3. Do not exceed the maximum
operating speed marked on the
wheel.
4. Do not use a wheel that has been
dropped.
5. Never use circular saw blades,
carbide-tipped blades, rescue
blades, wood-abrasive blades or
toothed blades of any nature. Their
use increases the risk of injury from
reactive forces, blade contact and
thrown tips.
6. Do not cut any material for which the
abrasive wheel is not authorized.
7. Position the cut-off machine in such
a way that your body is clear of the
abrasive attachment.
8. Begin abrasive and continue at full
throttle.
9. Do not overreach.
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