Shindaiwa 80974 manual General Safety Instructions The Properly Equipped Operator, Feet

General Safety Instructions The Properly Equipped Operator

WARNING!

Never make unauthorized attachment installations.

WARNING!

Use Good Judgment

ALWAYS wear eye protection to shield against thrown objects. NEVER operate the engine when transporting the unit.

NEVER operate the engine indoors! Make sure there is always good ven- tilation. Fumes from engine exhaust can cause serious injury or death.

ALWAYS clear your work area of trash or hidden debris that could be thrown back at you or toward a bystander.

ALWAYS use the proper cutting tool for the job.

ALWAYS stop the unit immediately if it suddenly begins to vibrate or shake. Inspect for broken, missing or improp- erly installed parts or attachments. NEVER extend trimming line beyond the length specified for your unit.

ALWAYS

Wear close-fitting clothing to protect legs and arms. Gloves offer added protection and are strongly recommended. Do not wear clothing or jewelry that could get caught in ma- chinery or underbrush. NEVER wear

shorts!

Keep a proper

footing and do not overreach—main- tain your balance at all times during operation.

Wear appropriate footwear (non- skid boots or shoes): do not wear open-toed shoes or sandals. Never work barefooted!

Figure 1

Wear hearing protection devices and a

broad-brimmed hat or helmet.Always wear eye protection such as goggles or safety glasses.

Always wear a shoulder strap or a harness when operating a unit equipped with a blade.

Always operate with both hands firmly gripping the unit.

When operating with a blade, make sure the handle is positioned to pro- vide you with maximum protection from contacting the blade.

Keep away from the rotating trimming line or blade at all times, and never lift a moving attachment above waist-high.

Always make sure

the appropriate cutting

attachment shield is correctly installed.

SAFETY

keep the unit as clean as practical. Keep it free of loose vegeta- tion, mud, etc.

ALWAYS hold the unit firmly with both hands when cutting or trimming, and maintain control at all times. ALWAYS keep the handles clean. ALWAYS disconnect the spark plug wire before performing any maintenance work.

ALWAYS, if a blade should bind fast in a cut, shut off the engine immedi- ately. Push the branch or tree to ease the bind and free the blade.

Be Aware of the Working Environment

Avoid long-term operation		Make sure bystanders
		or observers outside the
in very hot or very cold
		50-foot “danger zone”
weather.
		wear eye protection.
	Reduce the risk of
	bystanders being struck
	by flying debris. Make
	sure no one is within 50
	feet (15 meters)—that’s
	about 16 paces—of an	50
	operating attachment.
Be extremely careful of		FEET
slippery terrain, especially
during rainy weather.
If contact is made with a
hard object, stop the engine
and inspect the cutting at-
tachment for damage.

Be constantly alert for objects and debris that could be thrown either from the rotating cutting attachment or bounced from a hard surface.

Figure 2

Beware of a coasting blade when brushcutting or edging. A coasting blade can injure while it con- tinues to spin after the throttle trigger is released or after the engine is stopped.

When operating in rocky terrain or near electric wires or fences, use extreme caution to avoid contacting such items with the cutting attach- ment.

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