AL-KO EKS 2000/35 Instrucciones De Uso página 37

Working behaviour and working technique
Take the following measures before starting felling
work.
Make sure that no other people, animals or
objects are in the danger area.
The safe distance from other workplaces or
objects should be at least 2½ tree lengths.
Watch out for power lines and other people's
property. If necessary, notify the power sup-
ply company or the property owner.
Judge the falling direction of the tree.
Factors influencing the falling direction of the
tree:
Natural lean of the tree
Height of the tree
Branches growing on one side
Level ground or slope
Asymmetrical growth, wood damage
Wind direction and wind speed
Snow load
When working on a slope, always work uphill
of the tree to be felled.
Establish your escape route in advance, and
make sure that there are no obstacles in the
way. The escape route should be at an angle
of approx. 45° backwards from the falling di-
rection (19).
The trunk must be free from growth, branches
and foreign bodies (e.g. dirt, stones, loose
bark, nails, staples, wire, etc.).
Make two undercuts and one back cut in order to
fell a tree.
1. During back cuts and cross-cuts, place the
bumper spike firmly against the wood to be
cut.
2. Saw the first undercut (20/C) horizontally,
then the second undercut at an angle of at
least 45° from above. This prevents the chain
saw becoming trapped when you make the
second undercut. The undercut must be as
close as possible to the ground and in the re-
quired felling direction (20/E). The depth of
the undercut should be about 1/4 of the dia-
meter of the trunk.
3. Cut the back cut (20/D) exactly horizontally
opposite to the undercut. The back cut must
be made 3-5 cm above the horizontal under-
cut.
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4. Saw in the back cut (20/D) sufficiently deep
so that a bridge (20/F) of at least 1/10 the
trunk diameter remains between the undercut
(20/C) and the back cut (20/D). This bridge
prevents the tree from twisting and falling in
the wrong direction. The tree should start to
fall when the back cut (20/D) approaches the
bridge (20/F).
5. If the tree falls whilst you are sawing:
Interrupt the back cut if the tree does fall
in the wrong direction or leans back and
traps the chain saw. To open the cut and
fell the tree, drive in wedges in the direc-
tion of the required felling line.
Immediately pull the chain saw from the
cut, switch it off and put it down.
Walk away in the direction of the escape
route.
Watch out for falling branches and twigs.
6. If the tree remains standing, drive wedges into
the back cut in order to cause it to fall in a
controlled way.
7. At the end of sawing work, immediately re-
move your ear defenders and listen out for si-
gnals or warning calls.
Only use wedges made from wood, pla-
stic or aluminium.
DANGER!
Danger of fatal injury from a falling tree!
Having no escape route represents a
danger of serious and even fatal injuries!
Do not start the felling work until you
are sure there is an unobstructed escape
route away from the tree to be felled.
DANGER!
Danger of fatal injury from a falling tree!
Uncontrolled falling of a tree can lead to
extremely serious and even fatal injuries!
Do not carry out any felling work in windy
conditions.
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