Stihl 044 Instruction Manual - Page 2

Important Safety Precautions for Chain Saw Users

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Important Safety Precautions for Chain Saw Users A. Kickback Safety Precautions !Warning! 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 lightning fast 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. Section 5.12 of ANSI B 175.1-1991 sets certain performance and design criteria related to chainsaw kickback. STIHL has developed a color code system using green and yellow to help you select a powerhead, bar and chain combination that complies with the kickback requirements of the ANSI Standard. See the sections entitled "Safety Precautions" and "Specifications" of this manual. Do not rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into your saw. As a chainsaw user, you should take several steps to keep your cutting jobs free from accident or injury. 1. With a basic understanding of kickback, you can reduce or eliminate the element of surprise. Sudden surprise contributes to accidents. 2. Keep a good firm grip on the saw with both hands, the right hand on the rear handle, and the left hand on the front handle, when the engine is running. Use a firm grip with thumbs and fingers encircling the chainsaw handles. A firm grip will help you reduce kickback and maintain control of the saw. Don't let go. 3. Make sure the area in which you are cutting is free from obstructions. Do not let the nose of the guide bar contact a log, branch, or any other obstruction while you are operating the saw. 4. Cut at high engine speeds. 5. Do not overreach or cut above shoulder height. 6. Follow manufacturer's sharpening and maintenance instructions for the saw chain. 7. Only use replacement bars and chains specified by the manufacturer or the equivalent. 8. Reduced kickback bars and low kickback chains are designed to reduce the risk of kickback injury. Ask your STIHL dealer about these devices. B. Other Safety Precautions 1. Do not operate a chainsaw with one hand! Serious injury to the operator, helpers, bystanders, or any combination of these persons may result from onehanded operation. A chainsaw is intended to be used with two hands. 2. Do not operate a chainsaw when you are fatigued. 3. Use safety footwear; snug-fitting clothing; protective gloves; and eye, hearing, and head protection devices. continued on the back inside cover

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A. Kickback Safety Precautions
!
Warning!
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 lightning fast 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.
Section 5.12 of ANSI B 175.1-1991
sets certain performance and
design criteria related to chainsaw
kickback. STIHL has developed a
color code system using green and
yellow to help you select a power-
head, bar and chain combination
that complies with the kickback
requirements of the ANSI Standard.
See the sections entitled "Safety
Precautions" and "Specifications"
of this manual.
Do not rely exclusively upon the
safety devices built into your saw.
As a chainsaw user, you should
take several steps to keep your
cutting jobs free from accident or
injury.
1.
With a basic understanding of
kickback, you can reduce or eli-
minate the element of surprise.
Sudden surprise contributes to
accidents.
2.
Keep a good firm grip on the
saw with both hands, the right
hand on the rear handle,
and the left hand on the front
handle, when the engine is run-
ning. Use a firm grip with
thumbs and fingers encircling
the chainsaw handles.
A firm grip will help you reduce
kickback and maintain control
of the saw.
Don’t let go.
3.
Make sure the area in which you
are cutting is free from obstruc-
tions. Do not let the nose of the
guide bar contact a log, branch,
or any other obstruction while
you are operating the saw.
4.
Cut at high engine speeds.
5.
Do not overreach or cut above
shoulder height.
6.
Follow manufacturer’s
sharpening and maintenance
instructions for the saw chain.
7.
Only use replacement bars and
chains specified by the manu-
facturer or the equivalent.
8.
Reduced kickback bars and low
kickback chains are designed
to reduce the risk of kickback
injury. Ask your STIHL dealer
about these devices.
B. Other Safety Precautions
1.
Do
not
operate a chainsaw with
one hand! Serious injury to the
operator, helpers, bystanders,
or any combination of these
persons may result from one-
handed operation. A chainsaw
is intended to be used with two
hands.
2.
Do not operate a chainsaw when
you are fatigued.
3.
Use safety footwear; snug-fitting
clothing; protective gloves; and
eye, hearing, and head protect-
ion devices.
Important Safety Precautions for Chain Saw Users
continued on the back inside cover