General Chain Saw Safety Warnings; Causes And Operator Prevention Of Kickback - Stihl MSA 220.0 T Instruction Manual

5 General Power Tool Safety Warnings
5.8

General Chain Saw Safety Warnings

a) Keep all parts of the body away from the saw chain when
the chain saw is operating. Before you start the chain saw,
make sure the saw chain is not contacting anything. A
moment of inattention while operating chain saws may
cause entanglement of your clothing or body with the saw
chain.
b) Always hold the chain saw with your right hand on the rear
handle and your left hand on the front handle. Holding the
chain saw with the reversed hand configuration increases
the risk of personal injury and should never be done.
c) Hold the chain saw by insulated gripping surfaces only,
because the saw chain may contact hidden wiring. Saw
chain contacting a "live" wire may make exposed metal
parts of the chain saw "live" and could give the operator
an electric shock.
d) Wear eye protection. Further protective equipment for
hearing, head, hands, legs and feet is recommended.
Adequate protective equipment will reduce personal injury
from flying debris and or accidental contact with the saw
chain.
e) Do not operate a chain saw on a ladder, from a rooftop or
any unstable support. Operation of a chain saw in this
manner could result in serious personal injury.
f) When cutting a limb that is under tension, be alert for
spring back. When the tension in the wood fibers is
released, the spring loaded limb may strike the operator
and/or throw the chain saw out of control.
g) Use extreme caution when cutting brush and saplings.
The slender material may catch the saw chain and be
whipped toward you or pull you off balance.
h) Carry the chain saw by the control handle with the chain
saw switched off and away from your body. When
transporting or storing the chain saw, always fit the guide
bar cover. Proper handling of the chain saw will reduce the
likelihood of accidental contact with the moving saw chain.
i) Follow instructions for lubricating, chain tensioning and
changing the bar and chain. Improperly tensioned or
lubricated chain may either break or increase the chance
for kickback.
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j) Cut wood only. Do not use chain saw for purposes not
intended. For example: do not use chain saw for cutting
metal, plastic, masonry or non-wood building materials.
Use of the chain saw for operations different than intended
could result in a hazardous situation.
k) Follow all instructions when clearing jammed material,
storing or servicing the chain saw. Make sure the switch
is off and the battery pack is removed. Unexpected
actuation of the chain saw while clearing jammed material
or servicing may result in serious personal injury.
l) This chain saw is not intended for tree felling. Use of the
chain saw for operations different than intended could
result in serious injury to the operator or bystanders.
m)Do not operate a chain saw in a tree unless you have
been specifically trained to do so. Operation of a chain
saw in a tree without proper training could increase the
risk of serious personal injury.
5.9

Causes and Operator Prevention of Kickback

Kickback may occur when the nose or tip of the guide bar
touches an object, or when the wood closes in and pinches
the saw chain in the cut.
To contact in some cases may cause a sudden 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.
Kickback is the result of chain saw misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided by
taking proper precautions as given below:
a) Maintain a firm grip, with thumbs and fingers encircling the
chain saw handles, with both hands on the saw and
position your body and arm to allow you to resist kickback
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