Stihl MSA 120 C Instruction Manual page 16

English
￭ Before disengaging the chain brake and switching on your
chain saw, take the following steps to reduce the risk of
personal injury from reactive forces, loss of control or
inadvertent contact:
– Read and follow the instructions on switching on the
chain saw, @ 18.1.
– Be sure that the guide bar and saw chain are clear
of you and all other obstructions and objects,
including the ground.
– Never attempt to switch on the chain saw when the
guide bar is in a cut or kerf. Doing so could lead to
reactive forces and injury.
6.5.2 Holding and Controlling the Chain Saw
WARNING
￭ To maintain a firm grip and properly control your chain
saw:
– Keep the handles clean and dry at all times. Keep
them free of moisture, pitch, oil, grease and resin.
￭ To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injuries to the
operator or bystanders from loss of control:
– Avoid contacting any object with the
upper quadrant of the tip of the guide
bar. It may cause kickback to occur.
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6 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
– Always hold the chain saw firmly with
both hands when you are working.
– 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 motor is running. Stand to the left of
the cut while bucking, outside of the cutting plane
(see illustration).
￭ 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:
– Never use the chain saw with one hand.
￭ 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:
– Do not work in wet grass or terrain.
– Take special care in overgrown terrain and always
watch for hidden obstacles such as tree stumps,
roots, rocks, holes and ditches to avoid stumbling.
– Be extremely cautious when working on slopes or
uneven ground.
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