11
2. Kickback safety precautions
In some cases, tip contact may cause a lightning-fast reverse reaction, kicking the guide
bar up and back toward the operator (this is called a rotational kickback).
Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may push the guide bar rapidly back
toward the operator (this is called a linear kickback).
Either or these reactions may cause you to lose control of the saw and come in contact
with the moving chain, which could result in serious personal injury.
As a chain saw user, you should take several steps to keep your cutting jobs free from
accident or injury.
With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce or eliminate the element of
surprise.
Sudden surprise contributes to accidents.
Understand that rotational kickback is preventable by keeping an unshielded bar nose from
touching an object or the ground.
Do not operate a chain saw with one hand!
Serious injury to the operator, helpers or bystanders may result from one-handed
operation.
For proper control, always use two hands when operating a chain saw, one of which
operates the trigger.
Otherwise, this can result in the chain saw "skating" or skidding, which can result in
personal injury due to loss of control.
Keep a good firm grip on the saw which both hands, with 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.
Two hands must be used to control the saw at all times.
Do not overreach or cut above chest height.
Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is free from obstructions.
Do not let the bar nose contact a log, branch, or any other obstruction which could be hit
while you are operating the saw.
Cutting at high engine speeds may reduce the likelihood of kickback.
But cutting at part-throttle or low engine speeds may be preferable to control the chain saw
in tight situations and may also reduce the likelihood of kickback.
Follow manufacturer's sharpening and maintenance instructions for the saw chain.
Use only replacement guide bars and chains specified by the manufacturer, or the
acceptable equivalents of these guide bars and chains.
DANGER
Kickback safety precaution for chain saw users: 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.
