IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING: When using electric hedge trim- mers, basic safety precautions should always be followed to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and personal injury. Read all instruc- tions. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls and the proper use of the equipment.
OPERATOR SAFETY
SDANGER: Risk of cut. Keep hands away from blades. Keep both hands on handles when power is on. Do not attempt to clear away cut material when blades are in mo- tion. Make sure trigger switch is not en- gaged and power source is disconnected when removing jammed material from
blades. Do not grab or hold unit by blades. S WARNING: Do not use without handle
and guard. See Assembly section.
S Dress properly. Always wear safety glasses. Always wear face or dust mask if operation is dusty. Always wear heavy, long pants, boots, and gloves.Secure hair so it is above shoulder length. Do not go barefoot or wear short pants, sandals, jewelry, loose clothing, or clothing with loosely hanging straps, ties, tassels, etc.; they can be caught in moving parts. Being fully covered will help protect you from pieces of toxic plants such as poison ivy thrown by the blades, which could be more of a hazard than touching the plant itself.
SStay alert. Do not operate unit when you
are tired, ill, or under the influence of alco- hol, drugs, or medication. Watch what you are doing. Use common sense.
S Avoid unintentional starting of unit. Never carry unit with your finger on trigger switch. Be sure trigger switch is not engaged be- fore connecting extension cord.
SCAUTION: Blades move momentarily after the trigger switch is released. Allow blades
to stop before removing them from the cut.
SWear hearing protection when using unit.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
S WARNING: To reduce risk of electrical shock, avoid dangerous environment. Do not use on wet hedges or shrubbery, in damp or wet locations, or around swim- ming pools, hot tubs, etc. Do not expose to snow, rain, or water to avoid the possi- bility of electrical shock.
STo reduce the risk of electric shock, this ap- pliance has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the other) and will require the use of a polarized extension cord. The ap- pliance plug will fit into a polarized exten- sion cord only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the extension cord, reverse the plug. If the plug still does not fit, obtain a
correct polarized extension cord. A polar- ized extension cord will require the use of a polarized wall outlet. This plug will fit into the polarized wall outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully into the wall outlet, re- verse the plug. If the plug still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install the proper wall outlet. Do not change the equipment plug, extension cord receptacle, or extension cord plug in any way.
SWARNING: To reduce the risk of electri- cal shock, use extension cords specifi- cally marked as suitable for outdoor appliances having electrical rating not less than the rating of the unit. The cord must be marked with the suffix “WA” (“W” in Canada). An undersized extension cord will cause a drop in line voltage re- sulting in loss of power and overheating. If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge. The smaller the gauge number, the heavier the cord. See Select an Exten-
sion Cord section.
S Use only a 120 A.C. voltage supply as shown on the nameplate of unit.
SMake sure your extension cord is in good condition.
SDo not use in the presence of flammable liquids or gases to avoid creating a fire or explosion and/or causing damage to unit.
SDo not attempt to repair unit. Inspect in- sulation and connectors on unit and ex- tension cord before each use. If there is any damage, do not use until damage is repaired by qualified service personnel. Do not use a damaged extension cord.
S Don’t abuse cord. Never carry unit by cord or yank cord to disconnect unit.
S To reduce the possibility of extension cord disconnecting from unit during oper- ation, attach extension cord to cord re- tainer on unit. See illustration in Select an Extension Cord section.
SDo not use unit if the trigger switch does
not turn the unit on and off properly. Re- pairs to the switch must be made by quali- fied service personnel.
SKeep the extension cord clear of the op-
erator, blades, and obstacles at all times. Do not expose cords to heat, oil, water, or sharp edges.
SAvoid body contact with any grounded con- ductor, such as metal pipes or wire fences, to avoid the possibility of electric shock.
UNIT SAFETY
S Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection should be provided on the cir- cuit or outlet to be used for the hedge
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