Husqvarna T540 XP II Owner Manual - Page 28
Working with tree-service chainsaws, from a rope and harness
View all Husqvarna T540 XP II manuals
Add to My Manuals
Save this manual to your list of manuals |
Page 28 highlights
WORKING TECHNIQUES Working with tree-service chainsaws from a rope and harness This chapter sets out working practices to reduce the risk of injury from tree-service chainsaws when working at height from a rope and harness. While it may form the basis of guidance and training literature, it should not be regarded as a substitute for formal training. General requirements working at height Operators of tree-service chainsaws working at height from a rope and harness should never work alone. A competent ground worker trained in appropriate emergency procedures should assist them. Operators of tree-service chainsaws for this work should be trained in general safe climbing and work positioning techniques and shall properly equipped with harnesses, ropes, strops, karabiners and other equipment for maintaining secure and safe working positions for both themselves and the saw. Preparing to use the chainsaw in the tree The chainsaw should be checked, fuelled, started and warmed up by the ground worker and the chain brake should be engaged before it is sent up to the operator in the tree. The chainsaw should be fitted with a suitable strop for attaching to the operator's harness: b) provide suitable karabiners to allow indirect (i.e. via the strop) and direct attachment (i.e. at the attachment point on the saw) of saw to the operators harness. CAUTION! The belt eyelet is not dimensioned for use with a so-called safety rope. Use the rope eyelet for this purpose. c) ensure the saw is securely attached when it is being sent up to the operator. d) ensure the saw is secured to the harness before it is disconnected from the means of ascent. The chainsaw should only be attached to the recommended attachment points on the harness. These may be at mid-point (front or rear) or at the sides. Where possible attaching the chainsaw to centre rear mid-point will keep it clear of climbing lines and support its weight centrally down the operator's spine. a) attach the rope around the rope eyelet on the rear of the chainsaw. Note! The chainsaw should be attached to the harness by using chainsaw strop 577 43 80-01 or similar shock absorbing device. When moving the saw from any attachment point to another, operators should ensure it is secured in the new position before releasing it from the previous attachment point. Using the chainsaw in the tree An analysis of accidents with these chainsaws during tree-service operations shows the primary cause as being inappropriate one-handed use of the chainsaw. In the vast majority of accidents, operators fail to adopt a secure work position witch allows them to hold both handles of the chainsaw. This results in an increased risk of injury due to: • not having a firm grip on the saw if it kicks back. • a lack of control of the saw such that it is more liable to contact climbing lines and operators body (particularly the left hand and arm) • loosing control from insecure work position resulting in contact with the saw (unexpected movement during operation of the saw) 28 - English