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6. Before moving your chainsaw, switch off the engine and
lock the chain using the chain brake. Carry the chainsaw
with the bar and chain pointing backwards. Fit a guard
to the bar before transporting the chainsaw or carrying
it for any distance.
7. When you put the chainsaw on the ground, lock the
saw chain using the chain brake and ensure you have
a constant view of the chainsaw. Switch the engine off
before leaving your chainsaw for any length of time.
General rules
1. If you understand what kickback is and how it happens,
you can reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. By
being prepared you reduce the risk. Kickback is usually
quite mild, but it can sometimes be very sudden and
violent.
2. Always hold the chainsaw firmly with your right hand on
the rear handle and your left hand on the front handle.
Wrap your fingers and thumbs around the handles. You
should use this grip whether you are right-handed or
left -handed. This grip minimises the effect of kickback
and lets you keep the chainsaw under control. Do not
let go of the handles!
3. Most kickback accidents happen during limbing. Make
sure you are standing firmly and that there is nothing in
the way that might cause you trip or lose your balance.
Lack of concentration can lead to kickback if the
kickback zone of the bar accidentally touches a branch,
nearby tree or some other object.
Have control over the workpiece.
If the pieces you intend to cut are small and light, they
can jam in the saw chain and be thrown towards you.
Even if this does not appear to be dangerous, you may
be caught off guard and lose control of the saw. Never
saw stacked logs or branches without first separating
them. Only saw one log or one piece at a time. Remove
the cut pieces to keep your working area safe.
4. Never use the chainsaw above shoulder height and
avoid cutting with the tip of the bar. Never use the
chainsaw one-handed!
5. In order to keep control of your saw, always maintain a firm
foothold. Never work on a ladder, in a tree or on any other
insecure support.
6. Always use a fast cutting speed, i.e. full throttle.
7. Take great care when you cut with the top edge of the
bar, i.e. when cutting from the underside of an object.
This is known as cutting with a pushing chain. The chain
tries to push the chainsaw back towards the user. If the
saw chain is jamming, the saw may be pushed back at
you.
8. Unless the user resists this pushing force there is a risk
that the chainsaw will move so far backwards that only
the kickback zone of the bar is in contact with the tree,
which can lead to a kickback.
9. Cutting with the bottom edge of the bar, i.e. from the
top of the object downwards, is known as cutting with
a pulling chain. In this situation the chainsaw pulls itself
towards the tree and the front edge of the chainsaw
body rests naturally on the trunk when cutting. Cutting
with a pulling chain gives the operator better control
over the chainsaw and the position of the kickback zone.
10. Follow the instructions on sharpening and maintaining
your bar and chain. When you replace the bar and
chain use only combinations that are recommended
by us. See instructions under Cutting equipment and
Specifications.
WORKING TECHNIQUES
BT-CS-40
