Echo CHAIN SAW Safety Manual
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Echo CHAIN SAW Safety Manual

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CHAIN SAW SAFETY MANUAL
Misuse may result in serious or fatal injuries. You must read, understand,
and follow these safety instructions and the instructions in your Chain
Saw Instruction Manual before operating a Chain Saw.
Chainsaw kickback can cause serious or fatal injuries. Read and follow the
instructions to avoid kickback. ECHO supplies an anti-kick back guard called a Kick
Guard
with every new chain saw. Read the Kick Guard
®
which cutting applications and conditions require the installation of the kick guard.
Always use the Kick Guard
To locate your nearest ECHO dealer visit our website, http://www.echo-usa.com, or call 1-800-
432-ECHO (3246). Ask how to obtain a FREE Safety Video. Echo's Supplemental Safety Video
provides helpful safety and cutting information.
X7523200301
DANGER!
DANGER!
where possible.
®
instructions to determine
®
X752000031
10/07

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Summary of Contents for Echo CHAIN SAW

  • Page 1 Always use the Kick Guard where possible. ® To locate your nearest ECHO dealer visit our website, http://www.echo-usa.com, or call 1-800- 432-ECHO (3246). Ask how to obtain a FREE Safety Video. Echo’s Supplemental Safety Video provides helpful safety and cutting information. X752000031 X7523200301...

  • Page 2: Key Safety Symbols And Major Warnings

    KEY SAFETY SYMBOLS AND WARNINGS These important safety symbols are used throughout this manual and may also appear on your chain saw. They are provided to make you aware of potential hazards, and the precautions you must take to protect yourself from injury. You must read and understand the explanations, and obey the instructions.
  • Page 3 Body contact with a moving saw chain will cause serious or fatal injury. DANGER! Prevent hazardous Rotational Kickback! Install the Echo Kick Guard anti-kickback bar tip ® guard in cutting applications where bar tip contact with solid objects or surfaces cannot be avoided.
  • Page 4 IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNINGS WARNING! Keep hands and arms away WARNING! Keep helpers from moving chain. Do not reach near a moving and bystanders away from the chain to grab or remove the material that you area where you are cutting. are cutting.

  • Page 5: Key Chain Saw Terms

    ANSI testing. Before using “reduced FRONT HAND GUARD - This required device is intended kickback” chain, ask your ECHO dealer to determine if your chain to reduce the operator’s risk of injury from projecting saw can accommodate “reduced-kickback” chain and still meet branches and saw-chain contact with the left hand in the the 45-degree CKA requirement explained on page 13.

  • Page 6: Table Of Contents

    Many vital safety awareness tips are mentioned to help identify the dangers of using chain saws, and to teach you the precautions to take to avoid injury. ECHO has also provided helpful information about cutting techniques to make the tasks easier, more productive, and safer.

  • Page 7: Forces You Must Control

    FORCES YOU MUST CONTROL This section explains the forces which must be controlled to avoid injury when operating either a gas or electric-powered chain saw. Always remember that your best defenses are to exercise caution and use the chain saw properly, PULL and to be prepared to react to these forces PULL, PUSH and KICKBACK are terms for the direction a reaction takes.
  • Page 8 FORCES YOU MUST CONTROL FORCE OF GRAVITY & “FOLLOW THROUGH” – Gravity is always present and you must be prepared for it when you are operating a chain saw. During the cutting operation, the weight of the chain saw is supported by the material being cut.

  • Page 9: Kick Guard ® Installation

    Use of the saw without the Kick Guard device requires a higher level of caution on the part of the operator. Study the information and precautions in this manual carefully to learn how to operate the saw safely. Contact ECHO if you have any questions, or if you do not understand the information.

  • Page 10: Conditions Which May Require Removal Of Kick Guard

    Limit imposed by Echo has incorporated additional technology to help minimize the risk of kickback, such as reduced kickback chain, reduced kickback guide bar, and the chain brake system. These other devices only reduce kick back forces, and do not guarantee the prevention of kickback or kickback injuries.

  • Page 11: Operating Saw With Kick Guard ® Device

    FREE CUTTING NEAR MASONRY, FENCES, ETC. Before buying a new guide bar or new saw chain, check first with your ECHO dealer to be sure the new configuration can be mounted to your ® ECHO chain saw. Be sure ECHO’s Kick Guard device can be mounted onto the new guide bar.

  • Page 12: Operating Saw Without Kick Guard ® Device

    DEVICE DANGER! IF YOU REMOVE THE KICK GUARD, BE AWARE OF THE INCREASED RISK OF KICKBACK DUE TO THE BAR NOSE NOT BEING PROTECTED. PREVENT KICKBACK YOURSELF. DON’T LET THE BAR TIP CONTACT ANYTHING! Study the following illustrations related to kickback, and never make these kinds of errors! COMMON CAUSES OF KICKBACK KICKBACK KICKBACK...
  • Page 13 OPERATING SAW WITHOUT THE KICK GUARD DEVICE ® WARNING! Hold the saw firmly with both hands. Make sure your left thumb is always on the underside of the front handle. Never over the top! Keep your left arm straight with the elbow locked to prepare for any sudden or unexpected reaction of the chain saw, and to maintain better control.

  • Page 14: Additional Safety Devices To Reduce Kickback

    ADDITIONAL SAFETY DEVICES DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE RISK OF INJURY FROM KICKBACK Your ECHO chain saw and its operator’s manual have been certified to meet the requirements of Voluntary Standard B175.1 of the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). B175.1 sets forth the minimum safety requirements for the manufacture of gasoline-powered chain saws.
  • Page 15 ECHO chain brakes are designed to retain stopping times as close as possible to their original times, however periodic cleaning and or adjustment are required for the brake to perform properly.
  • Page 16 Linear kickback will be stopped if the device is drawn against the wood. Your ECHO chain saw may be equipped with either the more common symmetrical nose bar or an asymmetrical nose bar. The symmetrical nose bar can have a sprocket or welded tip.

  • Page 17: Operator Safety

    WEAR PROTECTIVE Z-87.1 EYEWEAR Also, ECHO recommends wearing hearing protection at all times. If not followed, hearing loss can occur. You should reduce the risk of hearing damage by wearing either “headset” type protectors or approved ear plugs. (Note: Stuffing ears with cotton is not recommended.) All persons who make part of their living using chain saws should be...
  • Page 18 Accordingly, your ECHO chain saw has shock mounts designed to reduce the intensity of vibration received through the handles. Exposure to cold and vibration may cause tingling and burning followed by loss of color and numbness in the fingers.

  • Page 19: Key Safety And Risk Prevention Guidelines

    KEY SAFETY AND RISK PREVENTION RULES DANGER! 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 toward the operator (this is called a rotational kickback).
  • Page 20 Follow ECHO’s sharpening and maintenance instructions for the saw chain. Use only ENGINE STOPPED replacement guide bars and chains specified by ECHO, or guide bars and chains that meet ANSI B175.1 requirements. Use extreme caution when cutting small-size brush and saplings because slender material may catch the saw chain and be whipped toward you or pull you off balance.

  • Page 21: General Safety Instructions

    Spark arrester mufflers are standard on ECHO chain saws to reduce the possibility of forest fires. Do not operate the chain saw with a loose or defective muffler. Do not remove the spark arrester screen.
  • Page 22 KEY SAFETY AND RISK PREVENTION RULES WARNING! DO NOT WALK AROUND WITH A MOVING CHAIN, ESPECIALLY IN AREAS OF POOR TERRAIN OR AROUND OBJECTS OR DEBRIS THAT CAN CAUSE TRIPPING. ALWAYS BE SURE OF YOUR FOOTING WHEN REPOSITIONING YOUR SELF FOR THE NEXT CUT. WARNING! IF YOU SENSE A TRIP OR FALL, THROW THE SAW AWAY FROM YOU SO THAT YOU DO NOT FALL ON IT .

  • Page 23: Rules For Safe Fueling

    WITH A LEAKY CAP! Order a new replacement cap immediately before using the saw. The fuel cap has been designed to seal with hand tightening. However, Echo has supplied a combination wrench. If needed, the screwdriver end can be used to help tighten or loosen the cap. Do not over-tighten as this can damage the threads on the tank or the filler cap.

  • Page 24: Safe Wood Cutting Practices

    SAFE WOOD CUTTING PRACTICES Operating a chain saw safely requires that the chain saw be in proper working order, with the chain properly tensioned. It also requires sound judgment, knowledge of proper cutting methods, and having a plan for every cut you make. WARNING! Do not let any person use your chain saw unless he or she has read the operator’s manual and this safety manual, and fully understands all instructions.

  • Page 25: Pinching, Binding & Splitting

    PINCHING, BINDING & SPLITTING HINGE Wind bends trees. Gravity bends logs that are not flat on the ground. A log weakened by a cut over 1/3 the log diameter is like two logs hinged together. The cut may either close or open wider, depending on how the log is positioned. MOVING OPENED In bucking logs, always make the weakening cut from the direction (opposite the “hinge”...

  • Page 26: Pruning Shade Trees And Cutting Saplings

    PRUNING SHADE TREES AND CUTTING SAPLINGS Whippy growth, such as saplings and tree branches, may resist being cut. Be prepared for the saw chain to skate along the surface and the material to vibrate from side to side. This can result in a sharp sudden pull on the saw or can cause branches to snap back at the operator.

  • Page 27: Felling Trees

    FELLING TREES Please note that felling a tree is more complicated than often expected. Take time to plan cuts, fall path and escape route before felling the tree. Electric powered units may not be suitable for felling some trees. Consider such factors as tree size and location, circuit breaker capacity, and weather and ground conditions to determine if an electric powered saw is appropriate.
  • Page 28 FELLING TREES If the back cut is too low, or the “hinge” is cut through, the tree will not be under control of the “hinge” and may fall in any direction. Be ready to leave the chain saw and GET AWAY FAST, away from the tree’s falling direction! FALL When the tree does not lean in the desired felling direction, insert a...

  • Page 29: Limbing And Bucking

    LIMBING AND BUCKING WARNING! Do not walk on the trunk or in a log pile, or cut while standing on it. WARNING! Take extra care when walking around a log pile, especially if logs are debarked or wet and slippery. Determine how the log or limb is tensioned.
  • Page 30 LIMBING AND BUCKING WARNING! Be alert for spring poles and stay clear of them during cutting. A spring pole can spring back suddenly when cut, or when the wood holding it down is cut away. A spring pole can strike you or deflect the moving saw chain into your body.

  • Page 31: Felling Very Large Trees

    FELLING VERY LARGE TREES Pertains to gasoline-powered saws only. Small gas powered saws and electric powered saws should not be used to fell very large trees. Only those that have been trained to cut very large trees should attempt these techniques.

  • Page 32: Bow Saw Warning

    WARNING! ECHO does not recommend the use of bow saws. If you choose to attach a bow guide to an ECHO chain saw, and thus create a bow saw, you do so at your own risk. A bow guide attachment increases the risk of severe kickback and serious injury.
  • Page 33 Broken or cracked housings or guards may not protect you. Do not operate the unit if housings or guards are damaged. Use only identical ECHO replacement parts when service is required. Use of non-identical parts may create an electrical hazard resulting in serious injury or death from electrocution.

  • Page 34: Glossary Of Chain Sawing Definitions

    DANGER! ECHO warns against the use of a bow guide THROTTLE TRIGGER LATCH BUTTON - The control used to set on your ECHO chain saw. A bow guide increases the risk of the throttle for a fast idle speed, required to start a cold engine.
  • Page 35 ANSI testing. Before using “reduced ROTATIONAL KICKBACK - The violent reaction which can kickback” chain, ask your ECHO dealer to determine if your chain occur when the chain at the upper section of the nose is suddenly saw can accommodate “reduced-kickback”...
  • Page 36 ECHO, INCORPORATED 400 OAKWOOD ROAD LAKE ZURICH, IL 60047 PHONE: (847) 540-8400 www.echo-usa.com...

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