HSE 41, HSE 51
English
25
Clear away fallen branches, scrub and 
cuttings.
Watch out for obstacles: Roots, tree 
stumps or holes which could cause you 
to trip or stumble.
When working at heights: 
– Always use a lift bucket
– Never work on a ladder or in a tree 
– Never work on an insecure support
Be particularly alert and cautious when 
wearing hearing protection because 
your ability to hear warnings (shouts, 
alarms, etc.) is restricted.
To reduce the risk of accidents, take a 
break in good time to avoid tiredness or 
exhaustion.
Work calmly and carefully – in daylight 
conditions and only when visibility is 
good. Stay alert so as not to endanger 
others.
The gearbox becomes hot during 
operation. To reduce the risk of burn 
injury, do not touch the gear housing.
If your power tool is subjected to 
unusually high loads for which it was not 
designed (e.g. heavy impact or a fall), 
always check that it is in good condition 
before continuing work – see also 
"Before Starting Work". Make sure the 
safety devices are working properly. Do 
not continue operating your power tool if 
it is damaged. In case of doubt, have the 
machine checked by your servicing 
dealer.
Inspect the hedge and work area to 
avoid damaging the cutting blades:
– Remove stones, rocks, pieces of 
metal and other solid objects.
– When working close to the ground, 
make sure that no sand, grit or 
stones get between the blades.
– Take particular care when cutting 
hedges next to or against wire 
fences.
To avoid the risk of electrocution, do 
not touch electric power lines – never cut 
through electric power lines.
If the hedge is very dusty or dirty, spray 
the blades with STIHL resin solvent from 
time to time during cutting. This helps 
reduce blade friction as well as the 
aggressive effects of sap and the build-
up of dirt particles.
The dust that occurs during operation 
may be harmful to health. If dust levels 
are very high, wear a suitable respirator.
Never jerk the connecting cord to 
disconnect it from the wall outlet. To 
unplug, grasp the plug, not the cord.
Avoid damage to the power supply cord. 
Do not drive over it, pinch or tug it.
Position the connecting and extension 
cords correctly:
– Do not chafe on edges, pointed or 
sharp objects
– Do not squeeze through gaps in 
doors or windows
– If cords are twisted – unplug the 
power tool and straighten them out
– Never touch the cutting attachment
– Always unwind the extension cord 
completely from the cable drum to 
reduce the risk of fire from 
overheating.
Before leaving the power tool 
unattended: Switch off the power tool 
and unplug it from the power supply.
Check the cutting blades at regular short 
intervals during operation or 
immediately if there is a noticeable 
change in cutting behavior:
– Switch off the motor, wait for the 
cutting blades to come to a 
standstill, disconnect plug from 
power supply.
– Check condition and tightness, look 
for cracks.
– Check sharpness.
Always switch off the power tool and 
unplug it from the power supply before 
replacing the cutting blades. This avoids 
the risk of injury from the motor starting 
unintentionally.
To reduce the risk of fire, always clean 
plant residue, chips, leaves and excess 
lubricant off the motor.
Do not touch the cutting 
blades while the motor is 
running. If the cutting 
blades become jammed 
by thick branches or 
other obstructions, switch 
off immediately and dis-
connect the plug from the 
power supply before 
attempting to free the 
blades.
If the connecting cord is 
damaged, immediately 
disconnect the plug from 
the power supply to avoid 
the risk of 
electrocution.