Rescue Saw Safe Operating Procedure

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Required Personal Protective Equipment

· Hard Hat

· High Visibility CSA Class 3 Level 2 Clothing

· CSA Approved Steel-Toed Boots

· Work Gloves

· CSA Approved Safety Glasses

· Face Shield

· Hearing Protection (ex: Ear Plugs)

· Dust Mask

 

Clothing must be sturdy and snug-fitting but allow complete freedom of movement. Wear snug fit-

ting clothing such as an over-all and not a loose-fitting jacket.

 

When cutting steel its always a best practice to wear clothing made of barely flammable material (e.g., leather or cotton with flame-retardant finish). Manmade fibers carry the risk of fire due to flying sparks.

 

Hand Carrying

· Saw must be carried in a case and/or slide switch to off/stop position

· Carry rescue saw with blade pointed behind you

· Keep hot muffler away from your body

· For short distance to continue cutting, rescue saw must be either shut down or with a brake engaged

· Never travel with the saw running or blade rotating

 

Inspection

A proper visual inspection must be done prior to use.

· Check saw engine visually to ensure parts are in good condition

· Ensure blade is in good condition and has proper tension

· Ensure saw has sufficient oil to gasoline mixture

· The cutting wheel must be suitable for the material to be cut

· The cutting wheel must be in good condition and fitted correctly (direction of rotation, securely seated)

· Check that the deflector is secure, consult the operator’s manual if it is loose

· The throttle trigger and throttle trigger interlock must move easily

· The throttle trigger must return automatically to the idle position when released

· Slide control / master control / stop switch must move easily to the STOP or 0 function

· Check that the spark plug boot is secure

 

Start up

· Read and understand operator’s manual

· Ensure all PPE are being worn properly

· Ensure rescue saw is on stable ground

· Never drop start a rescue saw

· Hold down the power head with left hand on the front handle

· Hold starter grip with our right hand; do not warp the cord around your hand

· Pull the starter cord straight up with a quick pull but do not use the full extent of the cord as it may cause the cord to break

· Do not allow the grip to snap back; guide the starter cord back to allow it to rewind properly.

 

Operating a Rescue Saw

· Ensure appropriate dust control measures are taken

· Debris, fumes and smoke may be produced while cutting and can cause a health hazard

· Keep both hands on the running rescue saw during the cutting operation with fingers and thumbs surrounding the handles while maintaining a stable footing and a comfortable body stance

· While aligning your body, make sure the rescue saw is positioned to the right of your body to avoid contact should a kickback occur

· During the cut, make sure you maintain your footing and balance

· When re-entering a cut, exercise extreme caution; hold the saw firmly

· Do not overreach or cut above your shoulder height

· Do not turn saw during a cut, readjust and make a new cut

 

Fueling and Lubricating

· Wait for saw to cool down

· Ensure fueling is done in a proper manner to avoid any spills

· Transport fuel only in DOT approved storage and dispensing cans

· Ensure the ground is solid, level and free of debris that could catch fire

· Do not smoke while refueling

· Clean the saw’s gas/oil caps to prevent debris from falling into the tanks

· Do not start the saw within 3 meters of your refueling area

· Use only manufacturer’s recommended fuel and oil

 

Refueling and Lubricating

· Never have the running rescue saw hit the ground

· Check for damages, refrain from using any damaged tools

· If a saw is defective, begin the lockout and tag procedure according to company standards and safety legislation

· Prolonged exposure to saw vibrations can lead to physical hand injury, take a 5minute break every 30minutes to relieve hand tension.

 

Post Operation

Upon return from the field, perform a post-operation cleaning and maintenance of the saw and associated equipment prior to placing the saw back on the shelf.

The saw must be in ready to use condition when stored.

Follow proper storage procedures from the instruction manual if the saw will not be used for some time.