Chain Saw Safety Warnings; Causes And Operator Prevention Of Kickback - Skil 0780 Manual Original

f) Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or
jewellery. Keep your hair, clothing and gloves away
from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewellery or long hair
can be caught in moving parts.
g) If devices are provided for the connection of dust
extraction and collection facilities, ensure these are
connected and properly used. Use of dust collection
can reduce dust-related hazards.
4) POWER TOOL USE AND CARE
a) Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power
tool for your application. The correct power tool will do
the job better and safer at the rate for which it was designed.
b) Do not use the power tool if the switch does not turn
it on and off. Any power tool that cannot be controlled
with the switch is dangerous and must be repaired.
c) Disconnect the plug from the power source and/or
the battery pack from the power tool before making
any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing
power tools. Such preventive safety measures reduce
the risk of starting the power tool accidentally.
d) Store idle power tools out of the reach of children
and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the power
tool or these instructions to operate the power tool.
Power tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
e) Maintain power tools. Check for misalignment or
binding of moving parts, breakage of parts and any
other condition that may affect the power tool's
operation. If damaged, have the power tool repaired
before use. Many accidents are caused by poorly
maintained power tools.
f) Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly
maintained cutting tools with sharp cutting edges are less
likely to bind and are easier to control.
g) Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits etc., in
accordance with these instructions, taking into
account the working conditions and the work to be
performed. Use of the power tool for operations different
from those intended could result in a hazardous situation.
5) SERVICE
a) Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair
person using only identical replacement parts. This
will ensure that the safety of the power tool is maintained.

CHAIN SAW SAFETY WARNINGS

• Children and juveniles, with the exception of
apprentices older than 16 years and under
supervision, may not operate the chain saw. The
same applies for persons who do not or do not
sufficiently know how to handle the chain saw. The
operating instructions should always be ready to hand.
Persons unfit or tired must not operate the chain saw.
• Keep all parts of the body away from the saw chain
when the motor is operating. Before you start the
saw, make sure the saw chain is not contacting
anything. A moment of inattention while operating chain
saws may cause entanglement of your clothing or body
with the saw chain.
• Always hold the chain saw with your right hand on
the rear handle and your left hand on the front
handle. Holding the chain saw with a reversed hand
configuration increases the risk of personal injury and
should never be done.
• Hold the power tool by insulated gripping surfaces
only, because the saw chain may contact hidden
wiring or its own cord. Saw chains contacting a "live"
wire may make exposed metal parts of the power tool
"live" and could give the operator an electric shock.
• Wear safety glasses and hearing protection. Further
protective equipment for head, hand, legs and feet
is recommended. Adequate protective clothing will
reduce personal injury by flying debris or accidental
contact with saw chain.
• Do not operate a chain saw in a tree. Operation of a
chain saw in a tree, may result in personal injury.
• Always keep proper footing and operate the chain
saw only when standing on fixed, secure and level
surface. Slippery or unstable surfaces such as ladders
may cause a loss of balance or control of the chain saw.
• When cutting a limb that is under tension be alert
for spring back. When the tension in the wood fibres is
released the spring loaded limb may strike the operator
and/or throw the chain saw out of control.
• Use extreme caution when cutting brush and
saplings. The slender material may catch the saw chain
and be whipped toward you or pull you off balance.
• Carry the chain saw by the front handle with the
chain saw switched off and away from your body.
When transporting or storing the chain saw, always
fit the guide bar cover. Proper handling of the chain
saw will reduce the likelihood of accidental contact with
the moving saw chain.
• Follow instructions for lubricating, chain tensioning and
changing accessories. Improperly tensioned or lubricated
chain may either break or increase the chance for kickback.
• Keep handles dry, clean, and free from oil and grease.
Greasy, oily handles are slippery causing loss of control.
• Cut wood only. Don't use chain saw for purposes
not intended (e.g. do not use chain saw for cutting
plastic, masonry or non-wood building materials).
Use of the chain saw for operations different than
intended could result in a hazardous situation.

CAUSES AND OPERATOR PREVENTION OF KICKBACK

• 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
• Tip contact in some cases may cause a sudden reverse
reaction, kicking the guide bar up and back towards
the operator
• Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar
may push the guide bar rapidly back towards the operator
• Either of these reactions may cause you to lose control of
the saw which could result in serious personal injury (do
not rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into your
saw; as a chain saw user, you should take several steps
to keep your cutting jobs free from accident or injury)
• Kickback is the result of tool misuse and/or incorrect
operating procedures or conditions and can be avoided
by taking proper precautions as given below:
- maintain a firm grip, with thumbs and fingers
encircling the chain saw handles, with both hands
on the saw and position your body and arm to
allow you to resist kickback forces (kickback forces
can be controlled by the operator, if proper precautions
are taken; do not let go of the chain saw)
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