Safety Regulations - Stiga BP 375 Operator's Manual

2. SAFETY REGULATIONS

2.1 TRAINING
Become familiar with the controls
and the proper use of the machine. Learn
how to stop the machine quickly. Failure
to follow the warnings and instructions
may result in fire and/or serious injury.
• Never allow children or persons unfamiliar with
these instructions to use the machine. Local
regulations may restrict the age of the operator.
• Never use the machine if the user is tired
or unwell, or has taken medicine, drugs,
alcohol or any substances which may slow
his reflexes and compromise his judgement.
• Bear in mind that the operator or user is
responsible for accidents or unexpected
events occurring to other people or their
property. It is the user's responsibility to
assess the potential risk of the area where
work is to be carried out and to take all the
necessary precautions to ensure his own
safety and that of others, particularly on slopes
or rough, slippery and unstable ground.
• If the machine is sold or lent to others, make
sure that the operator looks over the user
instructions contained in this manual.
2.2 PREPARATION
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
• Wear suitable clothing, strong work shoes
with anti-slip soles, and long pants. Do
not operate the machine barefoot or
wearing open sandals. Wear ear-protection
devices, anti-vibration gloves, protective
goggles, and a half mask respirator.
• This machine is extremely noisy and operators
must wear acoustic protection equipment.
• Use of hearing protections can reduce
the ability to hear any warnings (shouting
or alarms). Be careful of what occurs
around you in the work area.
• Never wear scarves, shirts, necklaces,
bracelets, loose flowing clothing, laces or
ties or any hanging or flapping accessory
that could catch in the machine or in any
objects or materials in the work area.
• Tie your hair back if it is long.
Work area / Machine
• Thoroughly inspect the whole work area and
use a rake or yard brush to manually untangle
debris, remove anything that could be projected
by the machine (when used as a blower), block
the vacuum tube (when the machine is used
as vacuum collector), or be a source of hazard
(stones, branches, steel wire, bones etc.)
• When operating in dry dusty soil conditions, it
is recommended to moisten the surface slightly.
Internal combustion engines: fuel
DANGER!
highly flammable!
DANGER! Fuel is highly flammable.
• Keep the petrol and fuel mixture in
approved fuel containers, in a safe place,
away from any naked lights or heat sources.
• Keep the fuel containers and storage area free
of grass cuttings, leaves, or excessive grease.
• Keep the containers out of
the reach of children.
• Do not smoke when preparing the
mixture, when filling or topping up with
fuel or when handling the fuel.
• Use a funnel to top up with
fuel only in the open air.
• Do not inhale fuel fumes.
• Never remove the tank cap or add fuel while
the engine is running or when the engine is hot.
• Open the fuel tank slowly to allow the
pressure inside to decrease gradually.
• Do not approach the tank opening with
a naked flame to check its contents.
• If you have spilled some fuel, do not attempt
to start the engine but move the machine
away from the area of spillage and avoid
creating any source of ignition until the fuel has
evaporated and fuel vapours have dissipated.
• Immediately clean up all traces of fuel
spilt on the machine or on the ground.
• Replace caps of all fuel tanks
and containers securely.
• Never start the machine in the same
place in which you refilled it with fuel; the
engine must be started in an area at least
3 metres from where you refuelled.
• If fuel is spilt on clothing, change
clothing before starting the engine.
2.3 DURING OPERATION
Work area
• Do not operate the engine in a confined space
where dangerous carbon monoxide fumes
can develop. All starting operations have to
be effected in an open or well ventilated area.
Always remember that exhaust fumes are toxic.
• When starting up the machine, do not direct
the silencer and therefore the exhaust
fumes towards flammable materials.
• Do not use the machine in environments at
risk of explosion, in the presence of flammable
liquids, gas or powder. Electrical contacts
EN - 2
Petrol and the fuel mixture are