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LAWN MOWER SAFETY
Most injuries or property damage with walk-behind mowers can be
prevented if you follow all instructions in this manual and on the
mower. The most common hazards are discussed below, along with
the best way to protect yourself and others.

Avoid Rotating Blades

Rotating blades can cause serious cuts and even amputate fingers,
hands, toes, or feet. Keep away from the mower deck whenever the
engine is running. If you need to adjust the cutting height or work
around the deck for any other reason, always shut off the engine.
Wear heavy gloves and disconnect the spark plug cap when you need
to clean the mower deck or handle the blades.

Clear Mowing Area

Mower blades can throw rocks and other objects with enough force to
cause serious injury. Before mowing, carefully inspect the area and
remove all sticks, stones, pieces of wire, and other loose objects.
Never operate the blades over gravel.

Keep Shields in Place

Guards and shields are designed to protect you from being hit by
thrown objects and from hot engine parts and moving components.
For your safety and the safety of others, keep all shields in place
when the engine is running.

Refuel with Care

Gasoline is extremely flammable and gasoline vapor can explode.
Refuel only outdoors in a well-ventilated area with the engine OFF.
Never smoke near gasoline and keep other flames and sparks away.
Always store gasoline in an approved container.

Wear Protective Clothing

Wearing protective clothing will reduce your risk of injury. Long pants
and eye protection reduce the risk of injuries from thrown objects.
Sturdy shoes with aggressive soles will help protect your feet and give
you better traction on slopes or uneven ground.

Turn Engine Off When Not Mowing

If you need to leave the mower for any reason, even just to inspect the
lawn ahead, always turn the engine OFF.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO PARENTS

THE SAFETY OF YOUR CHILDREN IS VERY IMPORTANT to
Honda. That’s why we urge you to read this message before letting
your child operate this lawn mower. Lawn mowers are tools, not toys.
As with any equipment, bad judgments can result in serious injuries.
You can help prevent injuries by making good decisions about if,
when, and how your child operates this equipment.
The first question you’ll need to ask is whether your child is capable of
operating this mower safely. Remember, young people vary widely,
and AGE IS NOT THE ONLY FACTOR.
Physically, a child must be LARGE ENOUGH AND STRONG
ENOUGH to easily start the mower and control its direction. The child
also needs enough size, strength, and coordination to comfortably
reach and operate the controls.
A tougher question you need to ask is if your child has enough
MATURITY AND RESPONSIBILITY to safely operate this mower.
Does the young person think through problems and come to logical
solutions? Be honest! Anyone who takes unnecessary risks and
doesn’t obey rules should not operate this lawn mower.
If you decide that your son or daughter can handle the mower safely,
CAREFULLY READ THE OWNER’S MANUAL with your child. Make
sure you both understand all instructions and safety information. Also,
be sure your child wears sturdy shoes and other protective clothing
when operating or handling the mower.
SUPERVISION is also very important. Walk with your child during the
first few minutes of mowing. Even after he or she has become
confident with the mower, do not let him or her use the mower without
good adult supervision. An adult should also be present during
refueling and maintenance. In fact, it’s up to the adult owner to make
sure that the mower is properly maintained and kept in safe operating
condition.
By always placing safety first, your child will acquire useful skills and a
sense of accomplishment. And you’ll both get the best results from
your lawn mower.

IMPORTANT MESSAGE TO EMPLOYERS

As an employer, you have special responsibilities to the people who
work for you.
Before you ask anyone to operate this mower, you need to determine
whether the person is old enough, large enough, and strong enough
to safely handle and control the mower.
If you decide he or she is, make sure the employee reads and
understands all instructions and warnings in this manual and on the
labels before operating the mower.
Allow adequate time for hands-on training by a qualified instructor,
and personally supervise practice sessions until you feel sure the
employee is ready to operate the machine.
Also be sure employees wear proper clothing and have eye protection
and any other gear that may be required by local ordinances or your
insurance company.
Remember, too, that you are responsible for keeping the mower
properly maintained and in safe operating condition. Your
commitment to safety on the job can help prevent injuries and
property damage.

SAFETY LABEL LOCATIONS

These labels warn you of potential hazards that can cause serious
injury. Read them carefully. If a label comes off or becomes hard to
read, contact an authorized Honda servicing dealer for a replacement.