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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 result in a hazardous
situation.
Kickback Safety
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 lose control of the saw which could
result in serious personal injury. Do not
rely exclusively 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.
Understanding Kickback
A basic understanding of kickback can
help reduce or eliminate the
element of surprise and the chance of
kickback-related injury. Sudden surprise
contributes to accidents.
a)
Rotational Kickback
can
happen when the upper tip of the guide
bar contacts an object while the chain is
moving . This can cause the chain to dig
into the object and momentarily stop
moving. The guide bar is then kicked up
and back toward the operator in a
lightning-fast reverse reaction.
b)
Linear Kickback
can happen
when the wood on either side of a cut
closes in and pinches the moving saw
chain along the top of the guide bar.
This can cause the chain to instantly
stop. The chain force is then reversed,
causing the saw to move in the
opposite direction, sending the saw
straight back toward the operator.
c)
Pull-In
can happen when the
moving chain on the bottom of the
guide bar hits a foreign object inside
the wood. This can cause the chain to
suddenly stop. The saw is then pulled
forward and away from the operator,
which could potentially result in the
loss of control of the saw.
Kickback Safety Precautions
Take the following steps to reduce the
chance of accident or injury:
1. Do not rely exclusively upon the
safety devices built into the unit.
2. Do not overreach. Always keep
proper footing and balance. Take extra
care when working on stairs, steep
slopes or inclines.
