KICKBACK SPECIFICS
WARNING:
control of the chain saw and result in serious
or fatal injury to the saw operator or to
anyone standing close by. Always be alert.
Rotational kickback and pinch-kickback are
major chain saw operational dangers and
the leading cause of most accidents.
Beware of:
Rotational Kickback
A
A
A = Kickback path
B = Kickback reaction zone
8
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
Kickback can lead
to dangerous loss of
B
A
Fig. 1
KICKBACK SPECIFICS
Beware of:
Pinch Kickback
A = Pull
B = Solid objects
C = Push
KICKBACK may occur when the NOSE or TIP of the
guide bar touches an object, or when wood closes in and
pinches the saw chain in the cut.
Tip contact in some cases may cause a lightning-fast
reverse reaction, kicking the guide bar up and back
toward the operator.
PINCHING the saw chain along the BOTTOM of the
guide bar may PULL the saw forward away from the
operator. PINCHING the saw chain along the TOP of the
guide bar may PUSH the guide bar rapidly back toward
the operator.
Any of these reactions may cause you to lose control of
the saw, which could result in serious personal injury.
A
B B
C
Fig. 2