Safety Precautions - Pioneer 1073 Operator's Manual

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9
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Never operate a chain saw when you are fatigued.
Use safety footwear, snug-fitting clothing, and eye, hear-
ing and head protection devices.
Always use caution when handling fuel. Move the chain
saw at least 10 feet
(3
m) from the fueling point before
starting the engine.
Do not allow other persons to be near the chain saw
when starring or cutting with the chain saw. Keep by-
standers and animals out of the work area.
Never start cutting until you have a clear work area, se-
cure footing, and a planned retreat path from the falling
trec.
Always hold the chain saw firmly with both hands when
the engine is running. Use a firm grip with thumbs and
fingers encircling the chain saw handles. See Figure 8 .
FIG. 8
7. Keep all parts of your body away from the saw chain
with the engine is running.
8. Before you start the engine, make sure the saw chain is
not contacting anything.
9. Always carry the chain saw with the engine stopped. the
guide bar and saw chain
to
the rear, and the muffler away
from your body.
10. Never operate a chain saw that is damaged, improperly
adjusted, or is not completely and securely as.sembled.
Be sure that the saw chain stops moving when the throt-
tle control trigger is released.
11. Always shut off the engine before setting it down .
. 12 . Use extreme caution when cutting small size brush and
saplings because slender material may catch the saw chain.
and be whipped toward you or pull you off balance.
13 . When cutting a limb that is under tension be alert for
spring back so that you will not be struck when the [en-
sian in the wood fibres is released.
14. Keep the han dles dry, dean and free of oil or fuel mix·
ture.
15. Operate the chain saw only in well ventilated areas.
16. Do not operate a chain saw in a tree.
17. All chain saw service, othe r than the items listed in the
Owner's l\-lanual maintenance instructions, should be
performed by competent chain saw service personnel.
Safety
Warning
(e.g., 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 which could subsequently cause
the flywheel to burst).
18. Guard against kickback. Kickback is the upward motion
of the guide bar which occurs when the saw chain at the
nose of the guide bar contacts an object. l<ickback can
lead to dangerous loss of control of the chain saw.
TO A VOID KICKBACK,
Hold the chain saw firmly with both hands. Don't over
reach. Don't let the nose of the guide bar contact a log,
branch, ground or any other obstruction. Cut at high
engine speeds. Don't cut above shoulder height. Follow
manufacturer's sharpening and maintenance instructions
for the saw chain.
19. When bucking a log, it is important to make sure foot-
ing is firm and weight is evenly distributed on both feet.
If possible, the log should be raised and supported by
use of limbs, logs or chocks.
When bucking on a slope, alw·ays stand on the uphill
side of the log, as illustrated in Figure 9. When "cutting
through", release the cQtting pressure near the end of
the cut. This will maintain complete control witl;lOut
relaxing your grip on the chain saw handles and will
avoid allowing the saw chain to contact the ground.
Upon completion of a cut, ensure the saw chain is stop-
ped before moving the chain saw.
20. As the felling cut gets close to the hinge the tree should
begin to fall. If there is any chance that the tree might
not fall in the desired direction. or may
roc~
back ,and
bind the
S1\\i
chain, stop cutting before the felling back
cut is completed and use wedges made of wood, plastic
or aluminum
to
open the cut and drop the tree along the
desired line of fall.
When the tree begins
to
fall, remove the chain saw from
the cut, stop the engine, put the ehain saw down, then
use the retreat path planned. Be alert for overhead limbs
falling and watch your footing.
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