Operation Manual

This results in an increased risk of injury due to:
• not having a rm grip on the saw if it kicks back;
• a lack of control of the saw such that it is mo re liable to
contact climbing lines and operators body (particularly
the left hand and arm)
• losing control from insecure work position re sul ting in
contact with the saw (unexpected mo vement during
operation of the saw).
Securing the work position for two-handed use
To allow the operator to hold the saw with both hands,
they should as general rule, aim for se cur e work position
where they are operating the saw at:
• hip level when cutting horizontal sections;
• solar plexus level when cutting vertical sections.
Where the operator is working close into vertical stems
with a low lateral forces on their work position, then a good
footing may be all that is needed to maintain a secure
work position.
However as operators mo ve
away from the stem, they will
need to ta ke steps to remove
or count er act the increasing
la teral forces by, for ex am ple,
a re-direct of the main line via
a supplementary anchor point
or using an adjustable strop
direct from the harness to a
supplementary an chor point.
Gaining a good footing at the
working position can be as-
sisted by use of a temporary
foot stirrup crea ted from an
endless sling.
Starting the saw in the tree
When starting the saw in the tree, the operator should:
a) apply the chain brake before starting;
b) hold saw on either the left or right of the body when
starting:
1) on the left side hold the saw with either the left hand
on the front handle or the right hand on the rear handle
and thrust the saw away from the body while holding
the pull starter cord in the other hand;
2) on the right side, hold the saw with the right hand on
either handle and thrust the saw a way from the body
while holding the pull star ter cord in the left hand.
The chain brake should always be engaged before lower-
ing a running saw onto its strop. Operators should always
check the saw has sucient fuel before undertaking criti-
cal cuts.
One-hand use of the chainsaw
Operators should not use tree service chainsaws one-
handed in place of unstable work positioning or in prefer-
ence to a handsaw when cutting small diameter wood at
the branch tips.
Tree service chainsaws should only be used one-handed
where:
• the operator cannot
gain a work position
enabling two han ded
use; and
• they need to support
their working po sition
with one hand; and the
saw is being used at full
stretch, at right angles
to and out of line with
the operator’s body.
Operators should never:
• cut with the kickback zone at the tip of the chainsaw
guide bar
• “hold and cut” sections
• attempt to catch falling sections.
Freeing a trapped saw
If the saw should become trapped during cutting, opera-
tors should:
• switch o the saw and attach it securely to the tree
inboard (i.e. towards the truck side) of the cut or to a
separate tool line;
• pull the saw from the kerf whilst lifting the branch as
necessary;
• if necessary, use a handsaw or second chain saw to
release the trapped saw by cutting a mi nimum of 30 cm
away from the trapped saw.
Whether a handsaw or a chainsaw is used to free a stuck
saw, the release cuts should always be outboard (toward
the tips of the branch), in order to prevent the saw be-
ing taken with the section and further complicating the
situation.
8 SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
EN