English---34
115391326 Rev. 3 1/31/11
AMERICAN STANDARD SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
Safety precautions for chain
saw users
(ANSI B175.1--2000 Annex C)
Kickback safety precautions
With a basic understanding of kickback, you
can reduce or eliminate the element of sur-
prise. Sudden surprise contributes to acci-
dents.
Keep a good firm grip on the saw with both
hands, the right hand on the rear handle, and
the left hand on the front handle, when the
engine is running. Use a firm grip with thumbs
and fingers encircling the chain saw handles.
A firm grip will help you reduce kickback and
maintain control of the saw. Don’t let go.
Make sure that the area in which you are cut-
ting is free from obstacles. Do not let the nose
of the guide bar contact a log, branch, or any
other obstacle which could be hit while you
are operating the saw.
Cut at high engine speeds.
Do not overreach or cut above shoulder
height.
Follow manufacturer’s sharpening and mainte-
nance instructions for the saw chain.
Only use replacement bars and chains speci-
fied by the manufacturer or the equivalent.
WARNING:
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 reac-
tion, 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.
Do not operate a chain saw when you are
fatigued.
Use safety footwear; snug--fitting clothing, pro-
tective gloves, and eye, hearing and head
protection devices.
Use caution when handling fuel. Move the
chain saw at least 10 feet (3 meters) from the
fueling point before starting the engine.
Do not allow other persons to be near the
chain saw when starting or cutting with the
chain saw. Keep bystanders and animals out
of the work area.
Do not start cutting until you have a clear
work area, secure footing and a planned re-
treat path from the falling tree.
Keep all parts of your body away from the
saw chain when the engine is running.
Before you start the engine, make sure that
the saw chain is not contacting anything.
Carry the chain saw with the engine stopped,
the guide bar and saw chain to the rear, and
the muffler away from your body.
Do not operate a chain saw that is damaged,
improperly adjusted, or not completely and
securely assembled. Be sure that the saw
chain stops moving when the throttle control
trigger is released.
Shut off the engine before setting the chain
saw down.
Use extreme caution when cutting small size
brush and saplings because slender material
may catch the saw chain and be whipped to-
ward you or pull you off balance.
When cutting a limb that is under tension be
alert for springback so that you will not be
struck when the tension in the wood fibers is
released.
Keep handles dry, clean and free of oil or fuel
mixture.
Operate the chain saw only in well--ventilated
areas.
Do not operate a chain saw in a tree unless
you have been specifically trained to do so.
Do not operate a chain saw above shoulder
height.
All chain saw service, other than the items
listed in the operator’s safety and mainte-
nance instructions, should be performed by
competent chain saw service personnel. (For
example, if improper tools are used to remove
the flywheel or if an improper tool is used to
hold the flywheel in order to remove the
clutch, structural damage to the flywheel could
occur and subsequently cause the flywheel to
burst.)
When transporting your chain saw, use the
appropriate guide bar guard.
Note: This Annex is intended primarily for the
consumer or occasional user.
WARNING:
Do not operate a
chain saw with one hand! Serious
injury to the operator, helpers,
bystanders or any combination of
these persons may result from
one-handed operation. A chain
saw is intended for two-handed
use.
Other safety precautions
