5 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
recommendations of governmental authorities (e.g.,
OSHA/NIOSH) and occupational and trade
associations.
■ If the vegetation being cut or the surrounding ground is
coated with a chemical substance, such as pesticide or
herbicide:
– Read and follow the instructions and warnings that
accompanied the substance coating the vegetation
or surrounding ground.
■ Breathing asbestos dust is dangerous and can cause
severe or fatal injury, respiratory illness or cancer,
including mesothelioma. The use and disposal of
asbestos-containing products is strictly regulated by
OSHA and the EPA.
– Do not use your chain saw to cut or disturb asbestos
or asbestos-containing products.
– Stop work immediately and contact the relevant
state and local authorities and/or EPA, your
employer or local OSHA representative if you have
reason to believe that you might be disturbing
asbestos.
■ Repeated contact with waste oil can cause skin cancer
and its use is harmful to the environment.
– Do not use waste oil to lubricate the bar and chain of
your STIHL chain saw.
5.6.5
Operating Instructions
WARNING
■ In the event of an emergency:
– Shut off the engine immediately and engage the
chain brake.
■ To reduce the risk of personal injury from loss of control
and/or contact with the chain:
– Do not use your chain saw with incorrect idle
adjustment. When the idle speed is correctly
adjusted, the chain should not move when the saw
0458-809-8621-A
running at idle. If it does, have your STIHL dealer
check your chain saw and make proper adjustments
and repairs before use.
■ To reduce the risk of severe personal injuries from
unintentional starting:
– Never touch a chain with your hand or any part of
your body when the engine is running, even when
the chain is not rotating.
■ The chain continues to move for a short period after the
throttle trigger is fully released. This is known as the
"flywheel effect." To reduce the risk of serious personal
injury from contact with the chain:
– Wait for the chain to stop and engage the chain
brake before walking with the chain saw or putting it
down.
■ Your chain saw is equipped with a chain catcher. It is
designed to reduce the risk of personal injury in the event
of a thrown or broken chain.
– Never operate the chain saw with a damaged or
missing chain catcher.
■ Contacting foreign objects while sawing might cause the
chain to break or be thrown, or cause the chain saw to
propel dangerous debris or kick back in the direction of the
operator. To reduce the risk of severe or fatal personal
injury caused by contact with foreign objects:
– Inspect the tree, log or branch before cutting.
– Remove any foreign objects to ensure that the wood
is free of materials such as nails, spikes, cables, or
wires.
– Before starting a cut, ensure that it can be completed
without contacting surrounding objects or structures
such as fencing or stonework.
■ Check the chain saw, chain and guide bar at regular short
intervals during operation, or immediately if there is a
change in cutting behavior:
– Shut off the engine and activate the chain brake.
– Have damaged, broken or excessively worn anti-
vibration elements replaced immediately. A
"sponginess" in the feel of the saw, increased
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