General Safety Rules - Craftsman CMCCSP20 Instruction Manual

English
ʵ if pole saw is damaged, adjusted incorrectly, or not
fully and securely assembled.
ʵ if trigger does not turn pole saw on and off. Chain
must stop moving when you release trigger. Have
faulty switch replaced by authorized service center.
See Accessories under Maintenance.
ʵ while in a hurry.
ʵ while in a tree or on a ladder.
ʵ while on aerial booms, buckets or platforms.
ʵ during high wind or storming weather.

GENERAL SAFETY RULES


DANGER: Shock Hazard. Serious injury or death
from electrocution if power lines are contacted. Never
use near any electrical source, wires, or power lines.

WARNING: For safe operation read and
understand owner's manual. Wear face shield
(and/or safety glasses) and hard hat to protect
against falling debris. Always have a clear work area,
retreat path, and be aware of limb/branch location to
avoid falling limbs and debris. Keep bystanders 50 ft
(15 m) away when operating saw. To reduce the risk
of electric shock do not use on wet surfaces. Do not
expose to rain. Store indoors.
• To protect yourself from falling branches do not stand directly
under the branch or limb being cut. This unit should not be
held at an angle over 60° from ground level.
• Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil.
• Before you start the unit, make sure the chain is not contacting
any object.
• Make sure the cutting chain has stopped before setting the
unit down.
Service
• Tool service must be performed only by qualified repair
personnel. Service or maintenance performed by
unqualified personnel could result in a risk of injury. Refer
to the Maintenance section of this manual.
• When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement
parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance section of
this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow
maintenance instructions may create a risk of electric
shock or injury.
Guard Against Kickback

WARNING: 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.
Tip contact in some cases 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 injury to user.

The following precautions should be followed to
minimize kickback:
4
• Grip pole saw firmly. Hold the saw firmly with both hands
when the unit is running. Use a firm grip with thumbs and
fingers encircling the saw handle and pole.
• Do not overreach.
• Keep proper footing and balance at all times.
• Don't let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch,
ground or other obstruction.
• Do not extend pole saw handle above shoulder height.
• Use devices such as reduced kickback chain, chain braking
system and special guide bars that reduce the risks
associated with kickback.
• Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the
manufacturer or the equivalent.
• Never let the moving chain contact any object at the tip of
the guide bar.
• Keep the working area free from obstructions such as
other trees, branches, rocks, fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate
or avoid any obstruction that your saw chain could hit
while you are cutting through a particular log or branch.
• Keep your saw chain sharp and properly tensioned.
A loose or dull chain can increase the chance of kickback.
Check tension at regular intervals with the motor stopped
and battery removed.
• Begin and continue cutting only with the chain moving at
full speed. If the chain is moving at a slower speed, there is
a greater chance for kickback to occur.
• Cut one branch at a time.
• Use extreme caution when re-entering a previous cut.
Engage spiked bumpers into wood and allow chain to
reach full speed before proceeding with cut.
• Do not attempt plunge cuts or bore cuts.
• Watch for shifting branches or other forces that could
close a cut and pinch or fall into chain.
Kickback Safety Features

WARNING: The following features are included on
your pole saw to help reduce the hazard of kickback;
however such features will not totally eliminate this
dangerous reaction. As a pole saw user do not rely
only on safety devices. You must follow all safety
precautions, instructions, and maintenance in this
manual to help avoid kickback and other forces which
can result in serious injury.
Reduced-Kickback Guide Bar, designed with a small
•
radius tip which reduces the size of the kickback danger
zone on bar tip. A reduced- kickback guide bar is one
which has been demonstrated to significantly reduce
the number and seriousness of kickbacks when tested
in accordance with safety requirements for electric
chain saws.
• Reduced Kickback Chain, designed with a contoured
depth gauge and guard link which deflect kickback
force and allow wood to gradually ride into the cutter. A
reduced-kickback chain is a chain which has met kickback
performance requirements of ANSI B175.1–2012. when
tested on the representative sample of chain saws.