Chainsaws: Take Care
Safety Tips to Follow

Safety must always be a
prime. consideration when
operating a chainsaw. Here
are a few safety tips using a
chainsaw:

TRANSPORT

Stop the engine before
pulting a chainsaw down or
before carrying it. Avoid
touching the hot muffler.

Shut off the engine and

allow. it. to cool before

refueling... Select bare
ground for fueling and
move at least 10 feet away
before starting the engine.

STARTING

Start and operate your
saw without assistance. Do
not drop start as you may

"lose control of the saw.

‘Place the chainsaw on
firm: ground or other solid
surface. Maintain a good
balance and secure footing.

Be ‘sure that the guide
bar and chain are clear of
you and all — other
obstructions and objects,
including the ground. Don't
try ta start the saw with the
guide bar in a cut or kerf.

~~ Don't’ wrap the starter

cord. around your hand.
Don't let the grip snap back.
CUTTING
Do not use a saw with an

‘incorrect’ idle — speed

adjustment. Note: At the
correct idle speed, the chain
should not rotate. After
adjusting the chain, start the
saw, jet the engine run for a
while, switch the engine off

and re-check the chain

tension.
WORKING
Don't work alone. Keep

~ within calling distance of

others in case help is
Tequired.
Put off work when the
weather is extreme.

Clear the area where you
are working.
Don't cut any material other
than wood or wooden
objects. When sawing, make

sure that the saw chain
doesn't touch other
materials. Doing so may
cause the saw ta switch
back.

Always maintain a firm
foothold. Never work on a
ladder or in a tree. Don't use
the saw above shoulder
height.

Don't pressure the saw
when reaching the end of a
cut. The pressure may cause
the bar and chain to pop oul
of the cut.

KICKBACK

Kickback occurs when
the upper part of the bar
nose contacts a solid object
or is pinched. this may fling
the bar wp and back in an
uncontrolled arc. Under
some cutting circumstances,
the bar moves towards the
operator. Never operate
your chainsaw without a
front handguard. In a
kickback situation, this
puard protects your left
hand and other parts of your
body.

The best protection from
kick back is to avoid
kickback situation: Hold the
chainsaw firmly with both
hands and maintain a secure

prip. Be aware of the

location of the guide bar
nose at all times. Don't let
the nose of the guide bar
contact any object. Don't
overreach. Begin cutting
and continue at full throttle.
Cut only one log al a time.
Don't plunge the saw. Stand
lo the side of the cutting
path of the chainsaw.

PUSHBACK

Pushback occurs when
ihe chain on the top of the
bar is suddenly stopped.
The reaction of the chain
drives the saw straight back
toward the operator cause
loss of saw control. Do not
twist the saw when
withdrawing the bar from
plunge or cut or under buck.

NORTHWEST FORESTRY DIGEST — JANUARY 1997 - PAGE 9

P TYREE FORESTRY

Consultants Lid.

PULL IN

Pull in occurs when the
chain on the bottom of the
bar is suddenly stopped.

The reaction of the chain
pulls the saw forward,
causing the operator to lose
control. Always start a cut
with the chain rotating at

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All About Forests

What is a clearcut?

A clearcut can be defined as an area of forest that has
been completely cleared of all trees other than seedlings
and occasional saplings. When a forest is clearcut, all the
trees that regraw in the area will be similar in age and

‘size. Clearcutting is the harvesting practice most
- commonly used ‘in the conversion-fram unmanaged to
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harvesting in managed timber production forests in the
world. However, ecologically ‘speaking, 3 clearcut is nol
just defined by the removal of trees, but also by the loss
of forest conditions are collectively referred to as the
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clearcul, bul more so, by the shape.

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