WORKING TECHNIQUES
English
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23
General rules
1
If you understand what kickback is and how it happens
then 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 chain saw 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 minimizes the
effect of kickback and lets you keep the chain saw
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 make 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 need to be a danger, you may be surprised
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 chain saw above shoulder height
and avoid cutting with the tip of the bar. Never use
the chain saw 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 the object.
This is known as cutting with a pushing chain. The
chain tries to push the chain saw 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 chain saw 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.
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 case the chain saw pulls itself
towards the tree and the front edge of the chain saw
body rests naturally on the trunk when cutting. Cutting
with a pulling chain gives the operator better control
