Safety Precautions; General Precautions; Protective Equipment; Fuels / Refuelling - Makita DCS230T Original Instruction Manual

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

CAUTION:
This chain saw is designed especially for tree care and surgery. All work with
this chain saw is to be carried out by properly trained persons only. Observe all
literature, procedures and recommendations from the relevant professional
organisation. Failure to do so constitutes a high accident risk! We recommend
always using a rising platform (cherry picker, lift) for sawing in trees. Rappel-
ling techniques are extremely dangerous and require special training! The
operator must be trained in and familiar with the use of safety equipment and
working and climbing techniques! Always use the appropriate belts, ropes and
carabiners when working in trees. Always use restraining equipment for both
the operator and the saw!
General precautions (Fig. 1 & 2)
- To ensure correct operation the user has to read this instruction manual to
make himself familiar with the characteristics of the chain saw. Users insufficiently
informed will endanger themselves as well as others due to improper handling.
- Lend this chain saw only to persons with training and experience in the use of tree-
surgery saws. Always hand over the instruction manual.
- Children and young persons aged under 18 years must not be allowed to operate
the chain saw. Persons over the age of 16 years may, however, use the chain saw
for the purpose of being trained as long as they are under the supervision of a
qualified trainer.
- Use chain saws always with the utmost care and attention.
- Operate the chain saw only if you are in good physical condition. If you are tired,
your attention will be reduced. Be especially careful at the end of a working day.
Perform all work calmly and carefully. The user has to accept liability for others.
- Never work under the influence of alcohol, drugs or medication.
- A fire extinguisher must be available in the immediate vicinity when working in eas-
ily inflammable vegetation or when it has not rained for a long time (danger of fire).
Protective equipment (Fig. 3 & 4)
- In order to avoid head, eye, hand or foot injuries as well as to protect your
hearing the following protective equipment must be used during operation of
the chain saw:
- The kind of clothing should be appropriate, i. e. it should be tight-fitting but not be a
hindrance. Do not wear jewellery or clothing which could become entangled with
bushes or shrubs. If you have long hair, always wear a hairnet!
- It is necessary to wear a protective helmet whenever working with the chain saw.
The protective helmet (1) is to be checked in regular intervals for damage and is
to be replaced after 5 years at the latest. Use only approved protective helmets.
- The face shield (2) of the protective helmet (or the goggles) protects against saw-
dust and wood chips. During operation of the chain saw always wear a goggle or a
face shield to prevent eye injuries.
- Wear adequate noise protection equipment (ear muffs (3), ear plugs, etc.).
- The protective jacket (4) consists of 22 layers of nylon and protects the operator
against cuts. It is always to be worn when working from elevated platforms (cherry
pickers, lifts), from platforms mounted on ladders or when climbing with ropes.
- The protective brace and bib overall (5) is made of a nylon fabric with 22 layers
and protects against cuts. We strongly recommend its use.
- Protective gloves (6) made of thick leather are part of the prescribed equipment
and must always be worn during operation of the chain saw.
- During operation of the chain saw safety shoes or safety boots (7) fitted with anti
skid sole, steel toe caps and protection for the leg must always to be worn. Safety
shoes equipped with a protective layer provide protection against cuts and ensure
a secure footing. For working in trees the safety boots must be suitable for climbing
techniques.

Fuels / Refuelling

- Stop the engine before refuelling the chain saw.
- Do not smoke or work near open fires (Fig. 5).
- Let the engine cool down before refuelling.
- Fuels can contain substances similar to solvents. Eyes and skin should not come
in contact with mineral oil products. Always wear protective gloves when refuelling.
Frequently clean and change protective clothes. Do not breathe in fuel vapors.
- Do not spill fuel or chain oil. When you have spilt fuel or oil immediately clean the
chain saw. Fuel should not come in contact with clothes. If your clothes have come
in contact with fuel, change them at once.
- Ensure that no fuel or chain oil oozes into the soil (environmental protection). Use
an appropriate base.
- Refuelling is not allowed in closed rooms. Fuel vapors will accumulate near the
floor (explosion hazard).
- Ensure to firmly tighten the screw caps of the fuel and oil tanks.
- Change the place before starting the engine (at least 3 m from the place of refuel-
ling) (Fig. 6).
- Fuel cannot be stored for an unlimited period of time. Buy only as much as will be
consumed in the near future.
- Use only approved and marked containers for the transport and storage of fuel and
chain oil. Ensure children have no access to fuel or chain oil.

Putting into operation

- Do not work on your own. There must be someone around in case of an
emergency.
- Ensure that there are no children or other people within the working area. Pay
attention to any animals in the working area, as well (Fig. 7).
- Before starting work the chain saw must be checked for perfect function and
operating safety according to the prescriptions.
Check especially the function of the chain brake, the correct mounting of the guide
bar, the correct sharpening and tightening of the chain, the firm mounting of the
sprocket guard, the easy motion of the throttle lever and the function of the throttle
lever lock, the cleanliness and dryness of the handles, and the function of the ON/
OFF switch.
- Put the chain saw only into operation if it is completely assembled. Never use the
chain saw when it is not completely assembled.
- Before starting the chain saw ensure that you have a safe footing.
- Put the chain saw into operation only as described in this instruction manual
(Fig. 8). Other starting methods are not allowed.
- When starting the chain saw it must be well supported and securely held. The
guide bar and chain must not be in contact with any object.
- When working with the chain saw always hold it with both hands. Take the
rear handle with the right hand and the tubular handle with the left hand. Hold the
handles tightly with your thumbs facing your fingers. It is extremely dangerous to
work with one hand, as the saw can fall through the completed cut uncontrolled
(high risk of injury). Furthermore, it is impossible to control kickback with one hand.
- CAUTION: When releasing the throttle lever the chain will keep on running
for a short period of time (free-wheeling).
- Continuously ensure that you have a safe footing.
- Hold the chain saw such that you will not breathe in the exhaust gas. Do not work
in closed rooms (danger of poisoning).
- Switch off the chain saw immediately if you observe any changes in its oper-
ating behavior.
- The engine must be switched off before checking the chain tension, tighten-
ing the chain, replacing it or clearing malfunctions (Fig. 9).
- When the sawing device is hit by stones, nails or other hard objects, switch off the
engine immediately and check the sawing device.
- When stopping work or leaving the working place switch off the chain saw (Fig. 9)
and put it down such that nobody is endangered.
- Do not put the overheated power chain saw in dry grass or on any inflammable
objects. The muffler is very hot (danger of fire).
- CAUTION: Oil dropping from the chain or guide bar after having stopped the saw
chain will pollute the soil. Always use an appropriate base.

Kickback

- When working with the chain saw dangerous kickbacks may occur.
- Kickback occurs when the upper part of the end of the guide bar inadvertently
touches wood or other hard objects (Fig. 10).
- Before the saw chain enters the cut, it can slip to the side or jump (caution: high
risk of kickback).
- This causes the saw to be thrown back toward the user with great force and out of
control. Risk of injury!
In order to prevent kickback, follow these rules:
- Only specially-trained persons should perform plunge cuts, i.e., piercing timber or
wood with the tip of the saw!
- Always observe the end of the guide bar. Be careful when continuing an already
started cut.
- When starting to cut the chain must be running.
- Ensure that the chain is always sharpened correctly. Pay special attention to the
height of the depth limiter.
- Never cut several branches at the same time. When cutting a branch ensure that
no other branch is touched.
- When crosscutting a trunk be aware of the trunks next to it.

Working behavior/Method of working

- Only use the chain saw during good light and visibility periods. Be aware of slip-
pery or wet areas, and of ice and snow (risk of slipping). The risk of slipping is
extremely high when working on recently peeled wood (bark).
- Never work on unstable surfaces. Make sure that there are no obstacles in the
working area, risk of stumbling. Always ensure that you have a safe footing.
- Never saw above your shoulder height (Fig. 11).
- Never saw while standing on a ladder (Fig. 11).
- Never climb a tree and work without the appropriate restraining systems for the
operator and the saw. We recommend always working from a rising platform
(cherry picker, lift).
- Do not work leaning too far over.
- Guide the chain saw in such a way that no part of your body is within the elongated
swivelling range of the saw (Fig. 12).
- Use the chain saw for sawing wood only.
- Avoid touching the ground with the chain saw while it is still running.
- Never use the chain saw for lifting up or removing pieces of wood or other objects.
- Remove foreign objects such as sand, stones and nails found within the working
area. Foreign objects may damage the sawing device and can cause dangerous
kickback.
- When sawing precut timber use a safe support (sawing jack, (Fig. 13)). Do not
steady the workpiece with your foot, and do not allow anyone else to hold or steady
it.
- Secure round pieces against rotation.
- Before performing a crosscut firmly apply the front of the body to the timber, only
then can the timber be cut with the chain running. For this the chain saw is lifted at
the rear handle and guided with the tubular handle. The front of the body serves as
a centre of rotation. Continue by slightly pressing down the tubular handle and
simultaneously pulling back the chain saw. Apply the front of the body a little bit
deeper and once again lift the rear handle.
- When the timber must be pierced for cutting or longitudinal cuts are to be
performed it is urgently recommended to have this carried out by specially
trained persons only (high risk of kickback).
- Do longitudinal - lengthwise - cuts at the lowest possible angle (Fig. 14). Be
very careful when doing this type of cut, as the front body cannot grip.
- The saw must be running whenever you remove the chain saw from the wood.
- When performing several cuts the throttle lever must be released in between.
- Be careful when cutting splintery wood. Cut pieces of wood may be pulled along
(risk of injuries).
- When cutting with the upper edge of the guide bar, the chain saw may be pushed
in the direction of the user if the chain gets clamped. For this reason use the lower
edge of the bar whenever possible. The chain saw will then be pushed away from
you (Fig. 15).
- If the timber is under tension (Fig. 16), first cut the pressure side (A). Then the
crosscut can be performed on the tension side (B). Thus clamping of the guide bar
can be avoided.
15