Safety Precautions; Kickback Safety Precautions; Other Safety Precautions - McCulloch MS4016PAVCC, MS4018PAVCC User Manual

2-1. 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 pinch-
es the saw chain in the cut. If bar tip makes contact with
something it may cause a lightning-fast reverse reaction,
kicking the guide bar up and back towards the operator.
Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may
push the guide bar rapidly back towards the operator.
Either 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. With a basic understanding of kickback, you can
reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. Sudden
surprise contributes to accidents.
2. 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.
3. Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is
free from obstructions. Do not let the nose of the
guide bar contact a log, branch, or any other obstruc-
tion which could be hit while you are operating the
saw.
4. Cut at high engine speeds.
5. Do not overreach or cut above shoulder height.
6. Follow manufacturer's sharpening and maintenance
instructions for the saw chain.
7. Only use replacement bars and chains specified by
the manufacturer or the equivalent.
NOTE: Low-kickback saw chain is chain that has met the
kickback performance requirements of ANSI B175.1-2000
(American National Standard for Power Tools Gasoline-
Powered Chain Saws Safety Requirements) when tested
on the representative sample of chain saws below 3.8 c.i.d.
specified in ANSI B175.1-2000.

2-2. OTHER SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

1. DO NOT operate a chain saw with one hand! Serious
injury to the operator, helpers, bystanders, or any
combination 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. Use caution when handling fuel. Move the chain saw
3

2 - SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS FOR CHAIN SAW USERS
(ANSI B175.1-2000, Annex C. CAN/CSA-Z62.1-03)
at least 9.1m (30 feet) from the fueling point before
starting the engine.
5. DO NOT allow other persons to be near when starting
or cutting with the chain saw. Keep bystanders and
animals out of the work area.
6. DO NOT start cutting until you have a clear work area,
secure footing, and a planned retreat path from the
falling tree.
7. Keep all parts of your body away from the saw chain
when the engine is running.
8. Before you start the engine, make sure that the saw
chain is not contacting anything.
9. Carry the chain saw with the engine stopped, the
guide bar and saw chain to the rear, and the muffler
away from your body.
10. 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.
11. Shut off the engine before setting the chain saw down.
12. 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.
13. When cutting a limb that is under tension, be alert for
springback so that you will not be struck when the ten-
sion in the wood fibers is released.
14. Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil or fuel mix-
ture.
15. Operate the chain saw only in well-ventilated areas.
16. DO NOT operate a chain saw in a tree unless you
have been specifically trained to do so.
17. All chain saw service, other than the items listed in the
user manual safety and maintenance instructions,
should be performed by competent chain saw service
personnel.
18. When transporting your chain saw, use the appropri-
ate guide bar scabbard.
19. DO NOT operate your chain saw near or around flam-
mable liquids or gases whether in or out of doors. An
explosion and/or fire may result.
20. USE THE RIGHT TOOL: Cut wood only. Do not use
the chain saw for purposes for which it was not intend-
ed. For example, do not use the chain saw for cutting
plastic, masonry, or non-building materials.
21. Do not attempt to add fuel or lubricating oil to saw
while engine is running.