Husqvarna PS 50 - Manual (Page 3)

Safety Precautions
/h 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.
• Pinching the saw chain along the top of the
guide bar may push the guide bar rapidly
back.
• 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.
With a basic understanding of kickback, you can
reduce or eliminate the element of surprise.
Sudden surprise contributes to accidents.
Keep a good firm grip on the pol with both hands,
the pol when the engine is running. Use a firm
grip with thumbs and fingers encircling the chain
saw handles. A firm grip will help you reduce
kickback and maintain control of the saw. Don’t
let go.
Make sure that the area in which you are cutting
is free from obstacles. Do not let the nose of the
guide bar control a log, branch, or any other
obstacle which could be hit while you are
operating the saw.
Cut at high engine speeds.
Follow manufacturer’s sharpening and
maintenance instructions for the saw chain.
Only use replacement bars and chains specified
by the manufacturer or the equivalent.
Do not operate a chain saw when you are
fatigued.
Use safety footwear; snug-fitting clothing;
protective gloves; and eye, hearing, and head
protection devices.
Use caution when handling fuel. Move the chain
saw at least 10 feet (3 m) from the fueling point
before starting the engine.
Do not allow other persons to be near the chain
saw when starting or cutting with the chain saw.
Keep bystanders and animals out of the work
area.
Do not start cutting until ^ou have a clear work
area, secure footing, and a planned retreat path
from the falling branches.
Keep all parts of your body away from the saw
chain when the engine is running.
Before you start the engine, make sure that the
saw chain is not contacting anything.
Carry the chain saw with the engine stopped.
Do not operate a chain saw that is damaged,
improperly adjusted, or not completely and
securely assembled. Be sure that the saw chain
stops moving when the throttle control trigger is
released.
Shut off the engine before setting the chain saw
down.
Use extreme caution when cutting small size
brush and saplings because slender material mau
catch the saw chain and be whipped toward you
or pull you off balance.
When cutting a limb that is under tension be alert
for springback so that you will not be struck when
the tension in the wood fibers is released.
Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil or fuel
mixture.
Operate the chain saw only in well-ventilated
areas.
All chain saw service, other than the items listed
in the operator’s and maintenance instructions,
should be performed by competent chain saw
service personnel. (For example, if improper tools
are used to remove the flywheel or if an improper
tool is used to hold the flywheel in order to
remove the clutch, structural damage to the
flywheel could occur and subsequently cause the
flywheel to burst.)
When transporting your chain saw, use the
appropriate guide bar scabbard.
For further safety precautions and basic cutting operations see:
Operator’s Manual and ANSI Z 133.1-1988.