machine on a flat, solid surface so that the motor can- not turn over, in a stable position with the motor off, the switch turned to O/STOP, the cutting tool stopped and wearing adequate protective gloves.
Apparel
5 Dress suitably for the job; wear approved personal protection gear:
•Closely fitting protective clothing (do not wear shorts or loose clothing). Do not wear jewelry that could get caught in moving parts of the machine.
•Safety boots with
•Sturdy gloves resistant to cuts and vibrations.
•Safety visor or protective goggles. Remove the protec- tive film if any.
•Hearing protection.
•Hard hat (if there is any risk of falling objects).
Health precautions
6 Avoid prolonged use. Noise and vibrations may be dangerous. Prolonged use of the machine or other
equipment expose the operator to vibrations that can cause the White Finger Syndrome (Syndrome of Raynaud). This could reduce the sensitivity of the hands in distinguishing different temperatures and cause a general numbness. The operator should therefore check the con- ditions of the hands and fingers if the machine is used continuously or regularly. If one of the symptoms should appear, consult a doctor immediately. Prolonged use of the machine or other equipment can cause discomfort, stress, fatigue, hearing damage. Wear suitable hearing protection when using the machine. Correct and scrupu- lous maintenance can also help to protect you further from the risk of noise and vibration.
7 | Avoid contact of the eyes and skin with any oil or |
| fuel. Do not inhale the gasoline fumes as they are |
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toxic. Do not start or run the motor in closed or poorly ventilated places. The exhaust fumes are poisonous to breathe and can be asphyxiating and even fatal.
Work zone
8 Examine the work area and be careful of any haz- ards (such as roads, driveways, power lines, hang-
ing tree limbs, etc.). Take special care when working on sloping terrain. Before use, remove any rubbish from the work area such as rocks, broken glass, ropes, metal parts, cans, bottles and any foreign body that could become entangled with rotating parts or be projected dangerously at a distance. Take account of possible haz- ards that may not be perceived because of the noise of the machine. Make sure there is someone in the vicinity within safe calling distance in case of accident.
During use
9 During use and for a few minutes after switching off the machine, the gearbox and zone near the shaft on which the cutting device is fastened are very hot. The
muffler and its guard are very hot during use and after the engine has been switched off, even with the engine run- ning at minimum speed. Contact can cause burns. Do not touch these parts if they are still hot.
10 | Twigs or grass may jam between the safety guard |
| and the blade or nylon string head. Never try to |
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remove this material with the engine running and/or the blade rotating. Watch out for the rotating parts and hot surfaces of the machine. Contact between the blades and any extraneous objects could cause serious injury to the operator or other people or animals in the vicinity, and could also damage the machine. Cut only the material recommended for each accessory and take care not to let the blades come into contact with rocks, metal parts, etc. The blade is sharp, so be very careful when handling it even with the engine off.
11 | Keep any other persons or animals away from the |
| work zone (minimum distance 15 meters). Since |
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there is a danger when you are working that the blade or nylon string head could throw out grass, dirt, rocks or for- eign bodies, when someone approaches switch the engine off or stop the blade or rotating head (see section entitled "Starting and stopping the engine"). Fasten your hair above shoulder length. Start the machine in a flat place, in a stable position, making sure the cutting tool does not touch any obstacles. Use the machine holding it to the right of your body so that the exhaust fumes can escape freely without obstruction from your clothing. While working, grip the brush cutter firmly with both hands. Stand in a stable position on your feet. Keep the grips clean and dry. Do not use the brush cutter while standing on a ladder or other unstable support. You should always be able to control your balance. Never use the machine under extreme weather conditions or in bad weather (very low temperatures, very hot, humid climate, fog, rain, wind, etc.). Keep all parts of your body and clothing away from the blades during startup or when the engine is running. During use, keep the work zone in front of you. Never cut walking backwards as you cannot see possible hazards. Do not put the machine down with the engine running. Never leave the machine alone. Never raise the brush cut- ter above knee level during cutting.
12 | Adjust the shaft fastening buckle so that the blade |
| or line cutter head are parallel to the ground. The |
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connection point should be held in the original position so as to avoid unbalancing the shaft.
Precautions for carrying the machine
Never carry the brush cutter, even for short
13 distances, with the engine running. Switch off the engine and carry it with the blade or nylon string head facing backward. For your safety, dur- ing transport and storage, always protect the blade with the guard supplied with the machine (see "Protection for transport"). When you trans- port the brush cutter in a motor vehicle, place it in a stable fixed position so that no fuel leaks out. We recommend emptying the fuel tank whenever you transport the machine.
Fire prevention precautions
Never work with the brush cutter in the presence
14 of fire or spilled gasoline. If you have spilt it on your- self, change your clothes at once. Keep the machine clean by removing any grass cuttings, leaves, excess oil to reduce the fire hazard. Engine exhaust fumes can get very