8
Keep A Firm Grip
• Grip Power Pruner with both hands with thumbs and fingers tightly
encircling the handle, and shaft tube.
Keep A Solid Stance
• Maintain footing and balance at all times. Do not stand on slippery,
uneven or unstable surfaces. Do not work in odd positions or on
ladders. Do not overreach.
• Operate the Power Pruner only from the ground or out of an
approved bucket lift.
• Always evaluate the branches to be pruned for hazards such as loose
dead branches which may fall and strike the operator or helpers.
Remove hazards before pruning.
• Plan retreat path from falling objects.
• Cut branches bounce when striking ground.
• Check that shoulder harness is adjusted for safe, comfortable
operation. See picture at right for proper adjustment.
• Turn the Power Pruner off when moving from tree to tree.
• Avoid any contact with saw chain.
KICKBACK
WARNING DANGER
Kickback can lead to dangerous loss of control of the Power
Pruner and result in serious injury to the operator or any one
standing close by.
Kickback may occur when the moving saw chain at 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. In some cases this may cause a
lightning-fast reverse action, kicking the guide bar and saw chain up
and back or down and back towards the operator. Either of these
reactions may cause the operator to lose control of the Power Pruner
which could result in serious personal injury.
With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce or eliminate the
element of surprise which contributes to accidents.
Hold the Power Pruner firmly with both hands. Be aware of the down
and outward path the pruner will take after the cut is made.
Avoid contact of the guide bar tip with any object while the saw chain
is moving.
Cut only wood. Avoid striking concrete, metal, wire, or other obstruc-
tions which could cause kickback or damage to the saw chain.
If the saw chain does strike a foreign object, immediately stop the
engine, inspect and repair the Power Pruner if necessary.
