Chain Saw Safety Warnings; Causes And Operator Prevention Of Kickback - Stiga A 180 E Manuel D'utilisation

SAFETY WARNINGS
the working conditions and the work to be performed.
Use of the power tool for operations different from those in-
tended could result in a hazardous situation.
5) Service
a) Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair per-
son using only identical replacement parts. This will en-
sure that the safety of the power tool is maintained.

CHAIN SAW SAFETY WARNINGS:

• Keep all parts of the body away from the saw chain when
the chain saw is operating. Before you start the chain
saw, make sure the saw chain is not contacting any-
thing. A moment of inattention while operating chain saws may
cause entanglement of your clothing or body with the saw
chain.
• Always hold the chain saw with your right hand on the
rear handle and your left hand on the front handle. Hold-
ing the chain saw with a reversed hand configuration increases
the risk of personal injury and should never be done.
• Wear safety glasses and hearing protection. Further pro-
tective equipment for head, hands, legs and feet is rec-
ommended. Adequate protective clothing will reduce per-
sonal injury by flying debris or accidental contact with the saw
chain.
• Do not operate a chain saw in a tree. Operation of a chain
saw while up in a tree may result in personal injury.
• Always keep proper footing and operate the chain saw
only when standing on fixed, secure and level surface.
Slippery or unstable surfaces such as ladders may cause a
loss of balance or control of the chain saw.
• When cutting a limb that is under tension be alert for
spring back. When the tension in the wood fibres is released
the spring loaded limb may strike the operator and/or throw the
chain saw out of control.
• Use extreme caution when cutting brush and saplings.
The slender material may catch the saw chain and be whipped
toward you or pull you off balance.
• Carry the chain saw by the front handle with the chain
saw switched off and away from your body. When trans-
porting or storing the chain saw always fit the guide bar
cover. Proper handling of the chain saw will reduce the likeli-
hood of accidental contact with the moving saw chain.
• Follow instructions for lubricating, chain tensioning and
changing accessories. Improperly tensioned or lubricated
chain may either break or increase the chance for kickback.
• Keep handles dry, clean, and free from oil and grease.
Greasy, oily handles are slippery causing loss of control.
• Cut wood only. Do not use chain saw for purposes not in-
tended. For example: do not use chain saw for cutting
plastic, masonry or non-wood building materials. Use of
the chain saw for operations different than intended could re-
sult in a hazardous situation.
CAUSES AND OPERATOR PREVENTION
OF KICKBACK:
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 sudden 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 loose control of the
saw which could result in serious personal injury. Do not rely ex-
clusively upon the safety devices built into your saw.
As a chain saw user, you should take several steps to keep
your cutting jobs free from accident or injury.
Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect operating
procedures or conditions and can be avoided by taking proper
precautions as given below:
• Maintain a firm grip, with thumbs and fingers encircling
the chain saw handles, with both hands on the saw and
position your body and arm to allow you to resist kick-
back forces. Kickback forces can be controlled by the oper-
ator, if proper precautions are taken. Do not let go of the chain
saw.
• Do not overreach and do not cut above shoulder height.
This helps prevent unintended tip contact and enables better
control of the chain saw in unexpected situations.
• Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the
manufacturer. Incorrect replacement bars and chains may
cause chain breakage and/or kickback.
• Follow the manufacturer's sharpening and maintenance
instructions for the saw chain. Decreasing the depth gauge
height can lead to increased kickback.
• Techniques for using the electric chain-saw
Always observe the safety regulations and use the most suitable
sawing techniques (see chapter 7 for instructions and examples).
Arrange the power cable so that it does not get tangled in
branches or other obstacles.
• Safe carrying of the saw
Whenever the machine is to be handled or transported you
must:
– turn off the engine, wait for the chain to stop and unplug the
machine from the mains;
– mount the bar cover;
– only hold the machine using the handgrips and position the bar
in the opposite direction to that used during operation.
When using a vehicle to transport the machine, position it so that
it can cause no danger to persons and fasten it firmly.
• Recommendation for the first-time users
Before felling or delimbing for the first time, make sure:
– you have been specifically trained to use this type of equip-
ment;
– you have carefully read the safety regulations and user in-
structions contained in this manual;
– you practise first on logs on the ground or attached to trestles,
in order to get familiar with the machine and the most suitable
cutting techniques.
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