Safety
Improperuseormaintenancebytheoperatororownercan
resultininjury.Toreducethepotentialforinjury,comply
withthesesafetyinstructionsandalwayspayattentionto
thesafetyalertsymbol,whichmeansCaution,Warning,or
Danger—personalsafetyinstruction.Failuretocomplywith
theinstructionmayresultinpersonalinjuryordeath.
SafeOperatingPractices
ThefollowinginstructionsareadaptedfromtheENISO
5395:2013andANSIB71.4-2012.
Training
•Readtheoperator'smanualandothertrainingmaterial
carefully.Befamiliarwiththecontrols,safetysigns,and
theproperuseoftheequipment.
•Iftheoperatorormechaniccannotreadthelanguageof
thismanual,itistheowner'sresponsibilitytoexplainthis
materialtothem.
•Neverallowchildrenorpeopleunfamiliarwiththese
instructionstouseorservicethemower.Local
regulationsmayrestricttheageoftheoperator.
•Nevermowwhilepeople,especiallychildren,orpetsare
nearby.
•Donotcarrypassengers.
•Alldriversandmechanicsshouldseekandobtain
professionalandpracticalinstruction.Theowneris
responsiblefortrainingtheusers.Suchinstructionshould
emphasize:
–theneedforcareandconcentrationwhenworking
withride-onmachines;
–controlofaride-onmachineslidingonaslopewill
notberegainedbytheapplicationofthebrake.The
mainreasonsforlossofcontrolare:
◊insufcientwheelgrip;
◊beingdriventoofast;
◊inadequatebraking;
◊thetypeofmachineisunsuitableforthetask;
◊lackofawarenessoftheeffectofground
conditions,especiallyslopes;
•Theowner/usercanpreventandisresponsiblefor
accidentsorinjuriesoccurringtopeopleordamageto
property.
Preparation
•Whilemowing,alwayswearsubstantialfootwear,long
trousers,ahardhat,safetyglasses,andhearingprotection.
Longhair,looseclothing,orjewelrymaygettangled
inmovingparts.Donotoperatetheequipmentwhen
barefootorwearingopensandals.
•Thoroughlyinspecttheareawheretheequipmentisto
beusedandremoveallobjectswhichmaybethrownby
themachine.
•Replacewornordamagedsilencers.
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessoriesand
attachmentsareneededtoproperlyandsafelyperform
thejob.Onlyuseaccessoriesandattachmentsapproved
bythemanufacturer.
•Checkthatoperator'spresencecontrols,safetyswitches,
andshieldsareattachedandfunctioningproperly.Donot
operateunlesstheyarefunctioningproperly.
Operation
•Donotoperatetheengineinaconnedspacewhere
dangerouscarbonmonoxidefumescancollect.
•Mowonlyindaylightoringoodarticiallight.
•Beforeattemptingtostarttheengine,disengageallblade
attachmentclutches,shiftintoneutral,andengagethe
parkingbrake.
•Donotputhandsorfeetnearorunderrotatingparts.
Keepclearofthedischargeopeningatalltimes.
•Rememberthereisnosuchthingasasafeslope.Travel
ongrassslopesrequiresparticularcare.Toguardagainst
overturning:
–donotstoporstartsuddenlywhengoingupor
downhill;
–machinespeedsshouldbekeptlowonslopesand
duringtightturns;
–stayalertforhumpsandhollowsandotherhidden
hazards;
–nevermowacrossthefaceoftheslope,unlessthe
mowerisdesignedforthispurpose.
–Usecounterweight(s)orwheelweightswhen
suggestedintheoperator'smanual.
•Stayalertforholesintheterrainandotherhiddenhazards.
•Watchoutfortrafcwhencrossingornearroadways.
•Stopthebladesfromrotatingbeforecrossingsurfaces
otherthangrass.
•Neveroperatethemachinewithdamagedguards,shields,
orwithoutsafetyprotectivedevicesinplace.Besure
thatallinterlocksareattached,adjustedproperly,and
functioningproperly.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingsoroverspeed
theengine.Operatingtheengineatexcessivespeedmay
increasethehazardofpersonalinjury.
•Beforeleavingtheoperator'sposition:
–stoponlevelground;
–disengagethepowertake-offandlowerthe
attachments;
–settheparkingbrake;
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