Stihl 036 QS Instruction Manual - Page 13

Take extreme care in wet and freezing weather (rain, snow, ice). Put off the work when the weather is windy, stormy or rainfall is heavy. Clear the area where you are working. 001BA087 LÄ 001BA032 LÄ Avoid stumbling on obstacles such as stumps, roots or rocks and watch out for holes or ditches. Be extremely cautious when working on slopes or uneven ground. There is increased danger of slipping on freshly debarked logs. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury to the operator or bystanders, never use the saw with one hand. You cannot control reactive forces and you may lose control of the saw, which can result in theskating or bouncing of the bar and chain along the limb or log. Even for those compact saws designed for use in confined spaces, one-handed operation is dangerous because the operator may lose control. Grip: Always hold the saw firmly with both hands when the engine is running. Place your left hand on front handle bar and your right hand on rear handle and throttle trigger. Left-handers should follow these instructions too. Wrap your fingers tightly around the handles, keeping the handles cradled between your thumb and forefinger. With your hands in this position, you can best oppose and absorb the push, pull and kickback forces of your saw without losing control (see section on reactive forces). Make sure your chainsaw handles and grip are in good condition and free of moisture, pitch, oil or grease. Do not operate your chainsaw with the starting throttle lock engaged. Cutting with the starting throttle lock engaged does not permit the operator proper control of the saw or chain speed. Never touch a chain with your hand or any part of your body when the engine is running, even when the chain is not rotating. The chain continues to rotate for a short period after the throttle trigger is released. Do not cut any material other than wood or wooden objects. Use your chainsaw for cutting only. It is not designed for prying or shoveling away limbs, roots or other objects. When sawing, make sure that the saw chain does not touch any foreign materials such as rocks, fences, nails and the like.