Weed Eater WE18C, 438181 manual General Operation, II. Slope Operation, Do not, III. Children

SAFETY RULES

I. GENERAL OPERATION

•Read, understand, and follow all instructions on the machine and in the manual(s) before starting. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls and the proper use of the machine before starting.

•Do not put hands or feet near or under rotating parts. Keep clear of the dis- charge opening at all times.

•Only allow responsible adults, who are familiar with the instructions, to operate the machine.

•Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire, sticks, etc., which could be picked up and thrown by the blade. Stay behind the handle when the motor is running.

•Be sure the area is clear of other people before mowing. Stop machine if anyone enters the area.

•Do not operate the mower when bare- foot 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 the entire grasscatcher, discharge guard, rear guard or other safety protective devices in place and working.

•Never leave a running machine unat- tended.

•See manufacturer’s instructions for proper operation and installation of accessories. Only use accessories ap- proved by the manufacturer.

•Stop the motor when crossing gravel drives, walks, or roads.

•Stop the motor whenever you leave the equipment, before cleaning the mower or unclogging the chute.

•Shut the motor off and wait until the blade comes to complete stop before removing grass catcher.

•Mow only in daylight or good artifi cial light.

•Do not operate the machine while under the infl uence of alcohol or drugs.

•Never operate machine in rain or on wet grass. Always be sure of your footing:

keep a fi rm hold on the handle and walk; never run.

•Disengage the self-propelled mecha- nism on mowers so equipped before starting the motor.

•If the equipment should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the motor and check immediately for the cause.

•Vibration is generally a warning of trouble.

•Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields when operat- ing 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 cau- tion. 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.

•Keep children out of the mowing area and under the watchful care of another responsible adult.

•Be alert and turn machine off if children enter the area.

•Before and while walking backwards, look behind and down for small children. Use extra care when approaching blind corners, shrubs, trees, or other objects that may obscure vision.

•The mower is not a toy. It can be very dangerous; children should not use this mower. Only responsible adults who have read the manual and understood all instructions should operate this mower.

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