Echo Pole Pruner User Manual

POLE PRUNER SAFETY MANUAL

DANGER!

Misuse may result in serious or fatal injuries. You must read, understand, and follow these safety instructions and the instructions in your

Operator’s Manual before operating a Power Pruner.

DANGER!

Overhead pruning can result in serious injury or death. Wear head, eye, face and ear protection that meets ANSI standards to avoid injury from falling objects or prolonged noise exposure. Place blade cover on blade when transporting or storing unit.

To locate your nearest Echo dealer, visit our website at www.echo-usa.com, or call 1-800- 432-ECHO (3246). Ask how to obtain a FREE Safety Video. Echo’s supplemental Safety Video provides helpful safety and operating information.

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X7522300101

12/07

CONTENTS

SYMBOL MEANINGS AND WARNINGS ................................................................................... 3

DEFINITION OF TERMS .............................................................................................................. 4

SAFETY APPAREL ........................................................................................................................ 7

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS .............................................................................................................. 8

FORCES TO CONTROL ............................................................................................................. 14

BALANCE AND BODY POSITION FOR CUTTING ................................................................. 16

PINCHING, BINDING, SPLITTING ............................................................................................ 17

LIMBING AND BUCKING ......................................................................................................... 18

WHEN TO CALL A PROFESSIONAL ........................................................................................ 19

PRUNING: TIMING AND TECHNIQUE .................................................................................... 20

SYMBOL MEANINGS AND WARNINGS

A circle and slash symbolizes prohibited actions and behaviors. Failure to follow warnings that are marked with a circle and slash can lead to serious, immediate and irreversible injury or death.

This symbol accompanied by the words WARNING and DANGER call attention to an act or a condition which can lead to serious, immediate and irreversible injury or death.

This symbol is used to denote that a specific safety precaution is more applicable for gas powered Pruners.

This symbol is used to denote that a specific safety precaution is more applicable for electric powered Pruners.

These symbols seen together are used to denote that a specific safety precaution is applicable for both gas powered and electric powered Pruners.

Keep people and animals at a minimum distance of 15m (50 feet) to avoid injury to bystanders or helpers.

SYMBOL MEANINGS AND WARNINGS

Maintain a distance 15m (50 feet) from electrical lines and electrical sources to avoid electrocution or electrical shock.

Wear sturdy, protective safety shoes or boots with nonskid soles. Maintain secure footing and balance.

ON OFF

Read and understand Operator’s Manual to avoid injury.

Wear head, eye, face and ear protection that meets ANSI standards to avoid injury from falling objects or prolonged noise exposure.

Hold the Power Pruner™ firmly with both hands with thumbs and fingers encircling the front and rear handles. To avoid injury never grasp exposed blades or use product with one hand.

Make sure engine switch is off or unit is unplugged (for electric) and blades have stopped moving before clearing jammed material.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

UNIT - Power head, handles, cutting assembly and pole.

GASOLINE AND ELECTRIC POWERED TERMS

CHOKE LEVER - The engine control attached to the carburetor that is used to enrich the fuel mixture for cold starting. Refer to Operator’s Manual for more details about correct position and use of the choke lever.

CLUTCH - The mechanism that transmits the rotation of the engine’s crankshaft to the cutting assembly.

DIELECTRIC MATERIAL - A material that reduces the likelihood of shock or electrocution from non-intentional contact during operation by providing protection against current flow through the unit to the operator.

GAUGE - A term that is used to describe the size of wire required when using extension cords with electric units over specific distances.

GFCI - Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter. An electrical circuit breaking device which provides protection against electrical shock hazards.

IGNITION/STOP SWITCH - An electrical switch which allows the engine to start and run, and turns the engine off. Refer to Operator’s Manual to learn and understand the stop and start procedure.

THROTTLE TRIGGER - The device that controls the fuel and air flow to the gasoline engine, either increasing or decreasing the engine’s RPM. Refer to the Operator’s Manual for an illustrated description.

THROTTLE TRIGGER LOCKOUT LEVER - A lever on the top of the throttle handle which must be depressed before the throttle can be activated. When the operator releases the throttle trigger lockout lever, the throttle trigger will lock in the idle position.

GENERAL TERMS

ANSI Z87.1 - The established standard for eye protection devices set forth by the American National Standards Institute.

BALLISTIC - A special material used in protection devices designed to reduce the risk of penetration from saw chain contact.

BINDING - Closing the cut or shifting the wood, possibly trapping the saw blade in the cut. Binding includes pinching. (Also, see PINCH on page 6.)

BRANCH - A secondary shoot or stem arising from one of the main axes of a tree or woody plant.

BRANCH COLLAR - Trunk tissue that forms around the base of a branch between the main stem and the branch.

BRUSHING OUT - Cutting or otherwise removing undergrowth and brush in the cutting area and along the planned path of retreat.

BUCKING - Generally the standard cross cuts made to section a log or felled tree. Variations include overbucking (cutting from top down) and underbucking (from underside).

CHAIN TENSIONER - The device which permits precise adjustment of the saw chain tension.

CHAPS - Specially designed leg protection which can reduce the risk of injury due to contact with a moving saw chain.

CHOKE - The engine control used to enrich the fuel mixture for cold starting.

THROTTLE TRIGGER/STOP SWITCH - An electrical switch which allows the electric motor to start and run, and turns the motor off when released. Refer to Operator’s Manual to learn and understand the stop and start procedure.

THROTTLING BACK - Releasing the throttle trigger to allow a decrease in engine speed (RPM).

THROTTLING UP - To increase the engine’s RPM by depressing the throttle trigger to desired level.

CLEARING - Removing undergrowth and saplings from an area.

CLOSURE - The process of woundwood covering a cut or other tree injury.

CROTCH - The angle formed at the attachment between a branch and another branch, leader, or trunk.

CROWN - The upper portion of a tree from the lowest branch on the trunk to the top.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

CROWN CLEANING - The removal of dead, dying, diseased, crowded, weakly attached branches from the tree’s crown.

CROWN REDUCTION - The reduction of the top, sides, or individual limbs by the means of removal of the leader or longest portion of a limb.

CROWN THINNING - The selective removal of branches to increase light penetration and air movement, and to reduce weight.

CUT - The exposed wood area resulting from the removal of a branch or a portion of it.

CUTTING SHOE - The lower front of the guide bar cover used as a work stop and/or pivot point when sawing the blade into the wood.

DECAY - Degradation of woody tissue caused by biological organisms.

FACE MASK - A mask to shield the face from flying objects. Face masks alone do not provide adequate protection for your eyes. Eye protection goggles or glasses meeting ANSI Standard Z87.1 must be worn underneath the face mask. See GOGGLES/GLASSES (below).

FACE SHIELD - A device worn in front of the eyes and a portion of, or all of, the face to supplement eye protection. A face shield alone does not provide adequate protection for your eyes. Eye protection goggles or glasses meeting ANSI Standard Z87.1 or CE Standard must be worn underneath the face mask. See GOGGLES/GLASSES (below).

HEARING PROTECTION DEVICES - These are ear-muff or plug-type devices worn to reduce exposure to harmful noises while permitting an operator to hear certain sounds.

HOT STICK – Is a non conductive insulated pole used by electric utilities in moving live downed power lines. Cleaning material designed with “hot stick” is certified for cleaning dielectric tools.

JAMMING - The restriction of the motion of the saw chain or blade while the engine is running due to an excessive cutting load or pinching as the cut closes against the guide bar and saw chain. This can occur when attempting to cut branches or stems with an excessive feed rate to the blades.

KICKBACK – This describes two highly dangerous reactions that can occur. When used alone in this manual, the term “kickback” refers to rotational kickback. Kickback can occur if the unshielded guide bar nose touches an object or the ground.

• ROTATIONAL KICKBACK - The violent reaction that can occur when the saw chain at the upper section of the nose is suddenly stopped or impeded, thereby dangerously driving the guide bar nose in an upward arc toward the operator.

• LINEAR KICKBACK - A push reaction, which can occur under certain conditions when the guide bar is buried in a cut and the cut closes, pinching the saw chain along the top rails of the guide bar and propelling the saw straight back toward the operator.

LEADER - A dominant upright stem, usually the main trunk. There can be several leaders in one tree.

FACILITY - Equipment or structure used to deliver or provide protection for the delivery of an essential service such as electricity.

FOLLOW THROUGH - After the saw completes a cut and is no longer supported by the wood, the bar and chain can continue on its path and strike the legs, feet or body of the operator or helper.

GOGGLES/GLASSES - A device covering the eyes and sockets, having impact-resistant lenses. Such goggles/ glasses must meet the ANSI Z87.1 or CE Standard. “Z87” or “CE” is stamped on approved goggles/glasses.

GUIDE BAR - The railed structure that supports and guides the saw chain.

LIMB - Same as branch, but larger and more prominent.

OBSTRUCTING - To hinder, block, close off, or be in the way of; to hinder or retard a desired effect or shape.

PARENT BRANCH OR STEM - The tree trunk; or a large limb from which lateral branches grow.

PINCH - Specifically the closing-in of the wood which pinches and stops the saw chain along the top rails of the guide bar during a cut. This can result in the saw being propelled straight back toward the operator (called a Linear Kickback). Pinch can also occur on the lower rails of the guide bar, resulting in the saw being pulled away from the operator.

DEFINITION OF TERMS

PRECUT OR PRECUTTING - The two-step process to remove a branch before the finished cut is made so as to prevent splitting or bark tearing into the parent stem. The branch is first undercut, then cut from the top before the final cut.

PRUNING - Removal of plant parts.

RECIPROCATING CUTTING BLADE - A moving blade that alternately changes direction on a linear cutting axis.

REDUCED-KICKBACK SAW CHAIN - A saw chain which has been demonstrated to reduce kickback on some saw models during ANSI testing.

SCABBARD - A sheath to cover the saw chain and guide bar during transport and at other times when the pruner is not in use.

SKATING - When the guide bar and saw chain or blade fails to dig in during a cut, the guide bar or blade can begin hopping or dangerously skidding along the surface of the branch, possibly resulting in the loss of control of the pruner. To prevent or reduce skating, properly hold the pruner with two hands and make sure the saw chain or blade has established a groove for cutting.

TREE CUTTING WOUND - The opening that is created any time the tree’s protective bark covering is penetrated, cut, or removed. Pruning a live branch creates a wound, even when the cut is properly made.

UTILITY - An entity that delivers a public service such as electricity or communication.

UTILITY SPACE - The physical area occupied by the utility’s facilities and the additional space required to ensure its operation.

PUSH AND PULL - When cutting is done along the bottom rails of the guide bar, the reaction on the saw is a pull away from the operator. When the top of the guide bar is used, the reaction pushes the saw toward the operator. Both are normal reactions that must be controlled by the operator.

QUALIFIED LINE CLEARANCE TREE TRIMMER - A tree worker who, through related training and on-the-job experience is familiar with the techniques in line clearance and has demonstrated his/her ability in the performance of the special techniques involved. This qualified person may or may not be currently employed by a line clearance contractor.

SPRING POLE - Be alert for spring poles and stay clear of them during cutting. A spring pole can spring suddenly when cut, or when the wood holding it down is cut away. A spring pole can strike you or deflect the saw into your body

STUB - An undesirable short length of a branch remaining after a break or incorrect pruning cut is made.

STRESS FRACTURE - Structural blade or housing damage resulting from jamming in a cut, using the guide bar/blade as a lever, dropping the unit, or other abuse.

TERMINAL ROLE - Branch that assumes the dominant vertical position on the top of a tree.

THINNING - The removal of a branch or branches at the point of original or the shortening of a branch or branches.

QUALIFIED TREE WORKER, PERSON, OR PERSONNEL Person(s) who, through related training and on-the-job experience, are familiar with the hazards of pruning, trimming, repairing, maintaining or removing trees and with the equipment used in such operations, and have demonstrated ability in the performance of the special techniques involved.

REASONS FOR PRUNING - The reasons for tree pruning may include, but are not limited to, reducing hazards, maintaining or improving tree health and structure, improving aesthetics, or satisfying a specific need such as: removing diseased, dead, dying, decayed, interfering or obstructing branches; training young trees; and, utility line clearance. Before pruning, the primary objective should be clearly defined. That objective should be accomplished in the manner most beneficial to the health of the tree.

SAFETY APPAREL

Always wear eye protection conforming to the ANSI Z87.1 or CE Standard when operating a pole saw (Z87 or CE is stamped on the eye protection). Wood chips, dust, snapping branches and other debris can be tossed by the cutting saw chain into the operator’s facial area. Eye protection may also offer some protection in the event the chain hits the operator in the eye area. If conditions warrant that a ventilated face shield be worn, eye protection must be worn underneath it. Hay fever (rhinitis) sufferers may purchase disposable masks at hardware or medical supply stores to help reduce the intake of allergenic particles.

Also, ECHO recommends wearing hearing protection at all times or hearing loss can occur. You should reduce the risk of hearing damage by wearing either “headset” type protectors or approved ear plugs. (Note: Stuffing ears with cotton is not recommended.) All persons who make part of their living using saws should be tested periodically for hearing deterioration.

WARNING DANGER

Operate a pole saw only while wearing eye and/or face protection that conforms to ANSI Z87.1 or CE Safety Standard (Z87 or CE is stamped on the eye protection).

Never wear loose clothing, unbuttoned jackets, flared sleeves and cuffs, scarfs, tie strings, neckties, cords, chains, or jewelry. Also, secure long hair which could snag or become entangled in the saw chain, power head or underbrush.

Never operate a pole saw when you are alone. Arrange to have someone remain within calling distance in case you need help.

During transportation a guide bar or blade cover known as a scabbard, should always be used.

Failure to follow these warnings can result in serious injury or death.

Always wear a “hard hat” when felling or working under trees. Wear heavy duty, nonslip gloves for improved grip, and also for protection against cold and vibration. Safety tip shoes or boots with nonslip soles should be worn. To reduce the risk of back strain, consider the use of a lumbar support brace or belt.

Clothing should be of sturdy, protective material. It should be snugfitting to resist snagging, but roomy enough for freedom of movement. Trouser legs should not be flared or cuffed, and should be either tucked into the boot tops or trimmed short. Safety vests, leg chaps and logger’s pants of ballistic material are available. It is the operator’s responsibility to wear such additional protection if conditions warrant.

SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

WARNING DANGER

Do not attempt to start or operate your pole saw until you have carefully read and completely understand your Operator’s and Safety Manuals. Locate, understand and follow the warning decals on your pole saw. Be familiar with the controls and the proper use of the unit. Know how to shut the unit off. Failure to follow these warnings can result in serious injury or death.

WARNING DANGER

Kickback Safety Precaution for Pole Saw Users

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 lightningfast reverse reaction, kicking the guide bar up and back toward the operator (this is called a rotational kickback). Pinching the saw chain along the top of the guide bar may push the guide bar rapidly back toward the operator (this is called a linear kickback). Either of these reactions may cause you to lose control of the unit, which could result in serious injury.

Do not rely exclusively upon the safety devices built into your pole saw. As a pole 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. Understand that rotational kickback is preventable by keeping an unshielded guide bar nose from touching an object or the ground.

• Do not operate a pole saw with one hand! This can result in the pole saw “skating” or skidding, which can result in personal injury due to loss of control. Serious injury to the operator, helpers or bystanders may result from one-handed operation. For proper control, always use two hands when operating a pole saw.

• Keep a good firm grip on the pole saw with both hands, with the right hand on the rear handle and the left hand on the front handle, when the engine or motor is running. Use a firm grip with thumbs and fingers encircling the pole saw handles and grips. A firm grip will help you reduce kickback and maintain control of the pole saw. Don’t let go.

• Make sure that the area in which you are cutting is free from obstructions. Do not let the unshielded guide bar nose contact a log, branch, or any other obstruction while you are operating the unit.

• Normally cutting at high engine speeds will reduce the likelihood of kickback. However, cutting at part-throttle or low engine speeds may be preferable to control the pole saw in tight situations and may also reduce the likelihood of kickback.

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