Kickback - Echo Trimmer Operator's Manual

8
Keep A Firm Grip
• Grip unit with both hands with thumbs and fingers encircling the
handle, and drive shaft housing.
Keep A Solid Stance
• Maintain footing and balance at all times. Do not stand on slippery,
uneven or unstable surfaces. Do not work in odd positions or on
ladders. Do not overreach.
• Operate the unit only from the ground or out of an approved bucket
lift.
• Always evaluate the branches to be pruned for hazards such as loose
dead branches which may fall and strike the operator or helpers.
Remove hazards before pruning.
• Plan retreat path from falling objects.
• Cut branches bounce when striking ground.
• Turn engine off when moving from tree to tree.
• Avoid any contact with saw chain.

KICKBACK

WARNING
Kickback can lead to dangerous loss of control of the Power
TM
Pruner and result in serious injury to the operator or any one
standing close by. Hold the Power Pruner
hands with thumbs and fingers encircling the front and rear
handles. Be aware of the down and outward path the pruner will
take after the cut is made.
Kickback may occur when the moving saw chain at 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. In some cases this may cause a
lightning-fast reverse action, kicking the guide bar and saw chain up
and back or down and back towards the operator. Either of these
reactions may cause the operator to lose control of the Power Pruner
which could result in serious personal injury.
With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce or eliminate
the element of surprise which contributes to accidents.
Avoid contact of the guide bar tip with any object while the saw chain
is moving.
Cut only wood. Avoid striking concrete, metal, wire, or other obstruc-
tions which could cause kickback or damage to the saw chain.
If the saw chain does strike a foreign object, immediately stop the
engine, inspect and repair the Power Pruner
DANGER
TM
firmly with both
TM
TM
if necessary.