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MOWER SAFETY GUiDELiNES
• The information this manual contains will
alert you to potential hazards and prevent
possible problems.
• It may not be practical or possible to warn
about all the hazards associated with op-
erating or maintaining
your lawn mower
in this manual and we would advise you
to use your own good judgment.
• Familiarize yourselfwith
your lawn mower,
know all the lawn mower controls and how
to operate them.
• Know howto quicklyshutoffyour
lawn
mower
in case of emergency.
USER SAFETY
The symbols
below
may appear
in this
manual
and on your
mower.
Learn and
understand their meaning.
CAUTION
OR WARNING
DANGER, KEEP HANDS
AND FEET AWAY
I. GENERAL
OPERATION
• Read, understand,
and follow all instruc-
tions on the machine and in the manual(s)
before starting. Be thoroughly familiarwith
the controls and the proper use of the ma-
chine before starting.
• Do not put hands or feet near or under
rotating parts. Keep clear of the discharge
opening at all times.
• Only allow responsible
individuals,
who
are familiar with the instructions,
to oper-
ate the machine.
• Clear the area of objects such as rocks,
toys, wire, bones, sticks, etc., which could
be picked up and thrown by the blade.
• Be sure the area is clear of other people
before mowing. Stop machine if anyone
enters the area.
• Do not operate the mower when barefoot
or wearing
open sandals.
Always wear
substantial
foot wear.
• Do not pull mower
backwards
unless
absolutely
necessary. Always look down
and behind
before
and while
moving
backwards.
• Never direct discharged
material toward
anyone. Avoid discharging material against
a wall or obstruction. Material may ricochet
back toward the operator. Stop the blade
when crossing gravel surfaces.
• Do not operate the mower without proper
guards or other safety protective devices
in place.
• See manufacturer's
instructions for proper
operation and installation
of accessories.
Only use accessories
approved
by the
manufacturer.
• Stop the engine (motor) when crossing
gravel drives, walks, or roads.
• Stop the engine
(motor) whenever
you
leave the equipment,
before cleaning the
mower or unclogging the chute. Disengage
key before cleaning.
• Shut the engine (motor) off and wait until
the blade comes to complete stop before
removing grass catcher.
• Mow only in daylight
or good artificial
light.
• Do not operate the machine while under
the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• Never operate machine in wet grass. Al-
ways be sure of your footing: keep a firm
hold on the handle and walk; never run.
• Disengage the self-propelled
mechanism
on mowers
so equipped
before starting
the engine (motor).
• If the equipment
should
start to vibrate
abnormally,
stop the engine (motor) and
check immediately
for the cause.
• Vibration
is generally a warning
of trou-
ble.
• Always
wear safety goggles
or safety
glasses with side shields when operating
mower.
II. SLOPE OPERATION
Slopes are a major factor related to slip and
fall accidents which can result in severe injury.
All slopes require extra caution. If you feel
uneasy on a slope, do not mow it.
DO:
• Mow across the face of slopes: never up
and down. Exercise extreme caution when
changing direction on slopes.
• Remove
obstacles
such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc.
• Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps. Tall grass
can hide obstacles.
DO NOT:
• Do not trim near drop-offs,
ditches
or
embankments.
The operator
could lose
footing or balance.
• Do not cut excessively
steep slopes.
• Do not mow on wet grass. Reduced footing
could cause slipping.
III. CHILDREN
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is
not alert to the presence of children. Children
are often attracted to the machine and the
mowing activity. Never assume that children
will remain where you last saw them.
2
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