Stiga BC 25 H Operator's Manual page 155

• Pay careful attention to uneven ground
(hills, dips), slopes, hidden hazards and
obstacles that could limit visibility.
• Be very careful near ravines,
ditches or embankments.
• Always work across the face of the slope
and never up and down it, being very careful
when changing direction, making sure the
cutting means is always downstream.
• Look out for traffic when using
the machine near the road.
Behaviour
• When working, the machine must always
be firmly held in both hands, keeping the
power unit on the right of the body and the
cutting group below the line of the belt.
• Always use caution and take on a
firm and well balanced position.
• Never run, always walk.
• Always keep the machine connected
to the harness when working.
• Always keep hands and feet away
from the cutting means, when starting
and when using the machine.
• Warning: the cutting means will continue to
rotate for a few seconds after disengagement
or after you have switched off the engine.
• Be careful of flying debris coming
from the cutting means.
• Be careful of avoiding violent collisions
between the cutting means and foreign
objects/obstacles. Kickback may occur if the
cutting means comes into contact with an
obstacle/object. This contact can cause a
rapid jerk in the opposite direction, pushing the
cutting means up and towards the operator.
Kickback can cause the operator to lose
control of the machine, leading to serious
consequences. To prevent kickbacks, take
all appropriate precautions provided below:
– Firmly hold the machine, with two hands,
and place your body and arms in a position
that allows you to resist kickback.
– Do not extend the arms too high and
do not cut above waist height.
– Only use the cutting means
specified by the manufacturer.
– Follow the manufacturer's instructions
concerning cutting means maintenance.
• Beware of injuries caused by devices
used to cut the line length.
• Warning: the cutting means continues to rotate
even after the engine has been switched off.
• Do not touch the engine parts, which
heat up during use. Burns hazard.
• To avoid the risk of fire, do not leave the
machine with the engine hot on leaves,
dry grass or other flammable material.
• If something breaks or an accident
occurs during work, turn off the engine
immediately and move the machine away
to prevent further damage; if an accident
occurs with injuries or third parties are
injured, carry out the first aid measures
most suitable for the situation immediately
and contact the medical authorities for any
necessary health care. Carefully remove
any debris which could cause damage or
injury to persons or animals if ignored.
• The noise and vibration levels shown
in these instructions are the maximum
levels for use of the machine. The use of an
unbalanced cutting element, the excessive
speed of movement, or the absence of
maintenance have a significant influence on
noise emissions and vibrations. Consequently,
it is necessary to take preventive steps to
eliminate possible damage due to high levels
of noise and stress from vibration. Maintain
the machine well, wear ear protection
devices, and take breaks whilst working.
• Prolonged exposure to vibrations can
cause injuries and neurovascular disorders
(also called "Raynaud's syndrome" or "white
finger"), especially to people suffering from
circulation disorders. The symptoms can
appear in the hands, wrists and fingers
and are shown through loss of sensitivity,
torpor, itching, pain and discolouring of
or structural changes to the skin. These
effects can be worsened by low ambient
temperatures and/or by gripping the hand
grips excessively tightly. If the symptoms
occur, the length of time the machine is used
must be reduced and a doctor consulted.
Use limitations
• Do not use the machine if you are unable
to hold it with both hands or keep it
steady on your legs whilst working.
• Never use the machine with damaged,
missing or incorrectly positioned guards.
• Do not alter the engine adjustments, nor
over-run it. If the engine is forced to work
with an excessive number of rotations,
the risk of personal injury increases.
• Do not strain the machine too much and do not
use a small machine for heavy duty work. If you
use the right machine, you will reduce the risk
of hazards and improve the quality of your work.
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