Read the safety manual that came with your chain saw.
Read the owner’s manual concerning kickback. To reduce the risk of kickback injury:
Use a reduced kickback bar, low kickback chain and chain brake
Avoid contact between the bar tip and any object
Hold the chain saw firmly with both hands
Do not over-reach
Do not cut above shoulder height
Check the chain brake frequently
Follow sharpening and maintenance instructions for the chain saw
Make sure your chain saw carburetor is properly adjusted.
Make sure that these chain saw features are working properly:
Chain brake (manual or inertia)
Chain catcher
Working safety throttle switch
Working on/off switch
Spark arrester
Have several commercially sharpened saw chains to match your chain saw and bar. You can immediately dull a chain saw chain by hitting the ground with the tip, cutting dirty wood or hitting a rock or nails.
Fill a gas-powered chain saw when the engine is cool. If the saw is out of gas, let it cool 30 minutes before refueling. Do not smoke when refueling the saw.
When clearing tree and wood debris, you should wear:
A helmet system (head, face and hearing protection)
Cotton or leather gloves
Chain saw protective chaps or chain saw protective pants
A pair of chain saw protective work boots with steel toes
Carry the chain saw with the engine off.
Look out for hazards, such as broken or hanging branches, attached vines or a dead tree that is leaning.
Be careful cutting dead trees
If the tree is broken and under pressure, make sure you know which way the pressure is going. If you’re not sure, make small cuts to release some of the pressure before cutting up the section.
Be careful of young trees that other trees have fallen on. They act like spring poles and may propel the chain saw back into your leg.
Felling a dangerous broken tree should be left to a professional cutter. A downed tree may weigh several tons and can easily injure or kill an unaware chain saw operator.
When bucking up (cutting) a downed tree, place a plastic wedge into the cut to keep your chain saw from binding up. They are available from chain saw dealers and sometimes come packaged with the saw.
Use a chain saw from the ground level only, not on a ladder or in a tree.
When felling a tree, keep everyone at least two tree lengths away.
You should have a preplanned escape route. It should be at a 45° angle from the projected direction of a falling tree. Make sure there is nothing that could trip or stop you from making a quick retreat.
Never cut when tired or alone. Always work with a partner but never around children or pets.
