Safety
Improperuseormaintenanceofthemachinecanresult
ininjury.Toreducethepotentialforinjury,complywith
thesesafetyinstructionsandalwayspayattentiontothe
safety-alertsymbol,whichmeansCaution,Warning,or
Danger—personalsafetyinstruction.Failuretocomplywith
theinstructionmayresultinpersonalinjuryordeath.
Thisproductiscapableofamputatinghandsandfeetand
throwingobjects.Alwaysfollowallsafetyinstructionsto
avoidseriousinjuryordeath.
Thisproductisdesignedforcuttingandrecyclinggrassor,
whenequippedwithagrassbagger,forcatchingcutgrass.It
couldbedangeroustousethisproductforanyuseotherthan
itsintendedpurpose.
SafeOperatingPractices
ThefollowinginstructionsareadaptedfromANSI
B71.4-2012.
Training
•ReadtheOperator'sManualandothertrainingmaterial.
•Iftheoperator(s)ormechanic(s)cannotreadthemanual
language,itistheowner'sresponsibilitytoexplainthis
materialtothem.
•Becomefamiliarwiththesafeoperationoftheequipment,
operatorcontrols,andsafetysigns.
•Alloperatorsandmechanicsshouldbetrained.The
ownerisresponsiblefortrainingtheusers.
•Neverletchildrenoruntrainedpeopleoperateorservice
theequipment.Localregulationsmayrestricttheageof
theoperator.
•Theowner/usercanpreventandisresponsiblefor
accidentsorinjuriesoccurringtopeople,ordamageto
property.
Preparation
•Evaluatetheterraintodeterminewhataccessoriesand
attachmentsareneededtoproperlyandsafelyperform
thejob.Onlyuseaccessoriesandattachmentsapproved
bythemanufacturer.
•Wearappropriateclothingincluding:substantial
slip-resistantfootwear,safetyglasses,andhearing
protection.Tiebacklonghair.Donotwearjewelry.
•Inspecttheareawheretheequipmentisused,andremove
allobjectsthatcanbethrownbythemachine.
•Checkthatoperator'spresencecontrols,safetyswitches,
andshieldsareattachedandfunctioningproperly.Donot
operateunlesstheyarefunctioningproperly.
Operation
•Lightningcancausesevereinjuryordeath.Iflightning
isseen,orthunderisheardinthearea,donotoperate
themachine;seekshelter.
•Donotrunanengineinanenclosedarea.
•Operateonlyinwell-litareas,keepingawayfromholes
andhiddenhazards.
•Ensurethatalldrivesareinneutralandthattheparking
brakeisengagedbeforestartingengine.Starttheengine
onlyfromtheoperator’sposition.
•Makesurethatyouhavegoodfootingwhileusingthis
machine,especiallywhenbackingup.Reducedfooting
couldcauseslipping.
•Slowdownanduseextracareonhillsides.Besureto
travelsidetosideonhillsides.Turfconditionscanaffect
thestabilityofthemachine.Usecautionwhileoperating
neardrop-offs.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturnsandwhen
changingdirectionsonslopes.
•Donotraisethemowerdeckwiththebladesrunning.
•DonotoperatethemachinewithoutthePTOshieldor
otherguardssecurelyinplace.Besurethatallinterlocks
areattached,adjustedproperly,andfunctioningproperly.
•Donotoperatewiththedischargedeectorraised,
removedoraltered,unlessyouareusingagrasscatcher.
•Donotchangetheenginegovernorsettingoroverspeed
theengine.
•Stoponlevelground,disengagedrives,engagethe
parkingbrake(ifprovided),shutofftheenginebefore
leavingtheoperator'spositionforanyreason,including
emptyingthecatchersoruncloggingthechute.
•Stopequipmentandinspectthebladesafterstriking
objectsorifanabnormalvibrationoccurs.Makethe
necessaryrepairsbeforeresumingoperations.
•Keepyourhandsandfeetawayfromthecuttingunit.
•Lookbehindanddownbeforebackinguptoensurea
clearpath.
•Keeppetsandbystandersawayfromanoperating
machine.
•Slowdownandusecautionwhenmakingturnsand
crossingroadsandsidewalks.Stopthebladesifyouare
notmowing.
•Beawareofthemower-dischargedirectionanddonot
pointitatanyone.
•Donotoperatethemowerundertheinuenceofalcohol
ordrugs.
•Usecarewhenloadingorunloadingthemachineinto
orfromatrailerortruck.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,trees,
orotherobjectsthatmayobscurevision.
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