Safety
ThismachinemeetsorexceedsCENstandardEN
836:1997,ISOstandard5395:1990,andANSIB71.4-2004
specicationsineffectatthetimeofproductionwhen40
lb.ofballastisaddedtotherearwheel.
Improperuseormaintenancebytheoperatororowner
canresultininjury.Toreducethepotentialforinjury,
complywiththesesafetyinstructionsandalwayspay
attentiontothesafetyalertsymbol(
Figure2),which
meansCaution,Warning,orDanger—personalsafety
instruction.Failuretocomplywiththeinstructionmay
resultinpersonalinjuryordeath.
SafeOperatingPractices
ThefollowinginstructionsarefromCENstandardEN
836:1997,ISOstandard5395:1990,andANSIB71.4-2004.
Training
•ReadtheOperator’sManualandothertrainingmaterial
carefully.Befamiliarwiththecontrols,safetysigns,and
theproperuseoftheequipment.
•Iftheoperatorormechaniccannotreadthelanguage
ofthismanual,itistheowner’sresponsibilitytoexplain
thismaterialtothem.
•Neverallowchildrenorpeopleunfamiliarwiththese
instructionstouseorservicethemower.Local
regulationsmayrestricttheageoftheoperator.
•Nevermowwhilepeople,especiallychildren,orpetsare
nearby.
•Keepinmindthattheoperatororuserisresponsiblefor
accidentsorhazardsoccurringtootherpeopleortheir
property.
•Donotcarrypassengers.
•Alldriversandmechanicsshouldseekandobtain
professionalandpracticalinstruction.Theowneris
responsiblefortrainingtheusers.Suchinstructionshould
emphasize:
–theneedforcareandconcentrationwhenworking
withride-onmachines;
–controlofaride-onmachineslidingonaslopewill
notberegainedbytheapplicationofthebrake.The
mainreasonsforlossofcontrolare:
◊insufcientwheelgrip;
◊beingdriventoofast;
◊inadequatebraking;
◊thetypeofmachineisunsuitableforthetask;
◊lackofawarenessoftheeffectofground
conditions,especiallyslopes.
◊Theowner/usercanpreventandisresponsible
foraccidentsorinjuriesoccurringtohimselfor
herself,otherpeople,orproperty
Preparation
•Whilemowing,alwayswearsubstantialfootwear,long
trousers,hardhat,safetyglasses,andhearingprotection.
Longhair,looseclothing,orjewelrymaygettangled
inmovingparts.Donotoperatetheequipmentwhen
barefootorwearingopensandals.
•Thoroughlyinspecttheareawheretheequipmentisto
beusedandremoveallobjectswhichmaybethrownby
themachine.
•Warning—Fuelishighlyammable.Takethefollowing
precautions:
–Storefuelincontainersspecicallydesignedforthis
purpose.
–Refueloutdoorsonlyanddonotsmokewhile
refueling.
–Addfuelbeforestartingtheengine.Neverremove
thecapofthefueltankoraddfuelwhiletheengineis
runningorwhentheengineishot.
–Iffuelisspilled,donotattempttostarttheengine
butmovethemachineawayfromtheareaofspillage
andavoidcreatinganysourceofignitionuntilfuel
vaporshavedissipated.
–Replaceallfueltankandcontainercapssecurely.
•Replacefaultysilencers/mufers.
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessoriesand
attachmentsareneededtoproperlyandsafelyperform
thejob.Onlyuseaccessoriesandattachmentsapproved
bythemanufacturer.
•Checkthatoperator’spresencecontrols,safetyswitches
andshieldsareattachedandfunctioningproperly.Donot
operateunlesstheyarefunctioningproperly.
Operation
•Donotoperatetheengineinaconnedspacewhere
dangerouscarbonmonoxidefumescancollect.
•Mowonlyindaylightoringoodarticiallight.
•Beforeattemptingtostarttheengine,disengageallblade
attachmentclutches,shiftintoneutral,andengagethe
parkingbrake.
•Rememberthereisnosuchthingasasafeslope.Travel
ongrassslopesrequiresparticularcare.Toguardagainst
overturning:
–donotstoporstartsuddenlywhengoingupor
downhill;
–machinespeedsshouldbekeptlowonslopesand
duringtightturns;
–stayalertforhumpsandhollowsandotherhidden
hazards;
–nevermowacrossthefaceoftheslope,unlessthe
mowerisdesignedforthispurpose.
•Stayalertforholesintheterrainandotherhiddenhazards.
•Watchoutfortrafcwhencrossingornearroadways.
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