Use of Hand Tools, Power Saws, Pumps, and Water Handling Equipment
What the exam tests
This domain covers safe and effective use of hand tools, power saws, pumps, and water-handling equipment. Questions test maintenance, setup, operational limits, and the safety decision that comes before production.
Core rules
- Hand tools: match tool to fuel and soil; keep cutting edges sharp; maintain spacing so swings do not strike adjacent workers; carry tools blade-down or covered.
- Power saws: wear saw PPE, clear an escape path, watch kickback and pinch or bind, use wedges, and keep the chain brake functional. Never cut alone in a hazardous position.
- Pumps: inspect fuel, oil, and strainer; prime correctly; avoid running dry or deadheading; secure the discharge before starting.
- Water handling: calculate hose lay, elevation, and friction loss; use nozzles and gated wyes to control pressure; protect hose from vehicle and heat damage.
Worked example
A sawyer is bucking a downed tree that is under tension on a slope. The bar begins to pinch. The correct response is to stop, set the chain brake, assess the bind, and use a wedge or change the cut from the tension side; forcing the cut can cause kickback or a sudden release. The reasoning is that bind controls the cut, not the saw's power.
Traps
Dull tools and forced cuts; cutting without an escape route; running a pump without water; ignoring friction loss on a long uphill lay.