Safety Rules; Safety Rules For Tree Service Chain Saw - Efco 132S Operator's Instruction Manual

SAFETY RULES

Safety Rules for Tree Service Chain Saw

This chain saw for tree service is a specialized chain-saw of
limited weight designed for use by a trained and competent
operator for pruning and dismantling standing tree crowns.
A trained operator is a person who has competence and
knowledge in:
- the use and particular hazards associated with using a chain-
saw (for tree service work),
- the precautions to be taken to limit these hazards including
wearing recommended personal protective equipment (PPE).
Due to the special compact handle design, there is an increa-
sed risk of injury.
For this reason these special chainsaws should be used only
for work in a tree by persons who are trained in special cut-
ting and working techniques and who are properly secured
(lift bucket, ropes, safety harness).
For all other cutting work forestry chain saws (with wider
spaced handles) must be used.
In addition to the safety instructions listed in the following
pages of the manual, when using a tree service chain saw
take special attention to the following instructions:
• The specially shaped handgrip on the machine calls for parti-
cular care when dealing with kickback.
• Extreme care should be taken at the end of a cutting operation
in relation to the machine suddenly dropping. This eventuality is
difficult to control with this type of handgrip.
• Attention should be paid to chain sliding. Instead of penetrating
the tree trunk, the chain may slide forward and the operator will
not be able to fully control this action.
• Tree maintenance operators must be trained in the correct ope-
rative techniques concerning safety at work, i.e.: headgear,
safety harnesses, cables and spring-clips, as well as all of the
other safety devices that are normally used and must be trained
professionally in tree climbing.
• Pay attention to wires while working; always keep distance from
them.
• Release machine from hook point while refuelling.
Working with Tree Service Chain saws from a Rope and
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Harness
This chapter sets out working practices to reduce the risk of injury
from tree service chain saws when working at height from a rope
and harness. These practices should not be regarded as a substi-
tute for formal training.
General requirements working at height
Operators of tree service chain saws working at height from a
rope and harness should never work alone. A competent ground
worker trained in appropriate emergency procedures should assi-
st them.
Operators of tree service chain saws for this work should be trai-
ned in general safe climbing and work positioning techniques and
should be properly equipped with harnesses, ropes, strops, kara-
biners and other equipment for maintaining secure and safe
working positions for both themselves and the saw.
Preparing to use the saw in the tree
The chain saw should be checked, fueled, started and warmed up
by the ground worker before it is sent up to the operator in the tree.
The chain saw should be fitted with a suitable strop for attaching
to the operator's harness (Fig. 1):
a) secure the strop around the attachment point on the rear of
2
the saw (Fig. 2);
en
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