Stihl HSA 25 Instruction Manual page 15

6 IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
6.6.3 Working Conditions
WARNING
￭ Operate your garden shears only under good visibility
during favorable daylight conditions.
– Postpone the work if the weather is windy, foggy,
rainy or inclement.
￭ Your garden shears are a one-person machine.
– Bystanders, especially children, and animals should
not be allowed in the area where they are in use.
– Switch off the garden shears immediately if you are
approached.
￭ To reduce the risk of injury to bystanders and
unauthorized users:
– Never leave the garden shears unattended when the
battery is inserted.
– Switch off the garden shears and remove the battery
during work breaks and any other time the garden
shears are not in use.
￭ Sparks generated from operation of the garden shears
may be capable of igniting combustible gases, liquids,
vapors, dusts or other combustible materials and
substances. To reduce the risk of fire and explosion:
– Never operate the garden shears in a location where
combustible gases, liquids, vapors, dusts or other
combustible materials and substances are present.
– Read and follow recommendations issued by
government authorities (e.g., CCOHS) for identifying
and avoiding the hazards of combustible gases,
liquids, vapors, dusts or other combustible materials
and substances.
0458-708-8221-A
￭ Use of these garden shears (including sharpening the
cutting blades) can generate dust and other substances
containing chemicals known to cause respiratory
problems, cancer, birth defects and other reproductive
harm.
– Consult governmental agencies such as ECCC,
CCOHS and PHAC and other authoritative sources
on hazardous materials if you are unfamiliar with the
risks associated with the particular substances you
are cutting or with which you are working.
￭ Inhalation of certain dusts, especially organic dusts such
as mold or pollen, can cause susceptible persons to have
an allergic or asthmatic reaction. Substantial or repeated
inhalation of dust or other airborne contaminants,
especially those with a smaller particle size, may cause
respiratory or other illnesses.
– Control dust at the source where possible.
– Always work with properly sharpened cutting blades.
– To the extent possible, operate the garden shears so
that the wind or operating process directs any dust,
mist or other particulate matter raised by the garden
shears away from the operator.
– When respirable dust or other particulate matter
cannot be kept at or near background levels, always
wear a respirator that is approved by PHAC and
rated for worksite-specific conditions. Follow the
recommendations of governmental authorities (e.g.,
CCOHS/PHAC) and occupational and trade
associations.
￭ If the vegetation being cut or the surrounding ground is
coated with a chemical substance, such as pesticide or
herbicide:
– Read and follow the instructions and warnings that
accompanied the substance coating the vegetation
or surrounding ground.
6.6.4 Operating Instructions
WARNING
￭ To reduce the risk of serious or fatal cut injuries to the
operator or bystanders from blade contact:
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