OPERATOR SAFETY
DANGER: RISK OF CUT; KEEP HANDS AND FEET AWAY FROM BLADE. Keep both hands on handles when power is on. Do not attempt to clear away cut material when blades are in motion. Make sure trigger switch is not engaged and power source is disconnected when removing jammed material from blades. Do not grab or hold unit by blades.
S Dress properly. Always wear safety glasses or similar eye protection when op- erating, or performing maintenance on your unit. (Safety glasses are available.) Always wear face or dust mask if operation is dusty. Always wear heavy, long pants, long sleeves, boots, and gloves. Secure hair 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.
SAlways wear hearing protection when us- ing this unit.
SBeing fully covered also helps protect you from debris and 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, upset or under influence of al- cohol, drugs, or medication. Watch what you are doing; use common sense.
SAvoid unintentional starting of the unit. Never carry unit with your finger on the trigger switch. Be sure the trigger switch is not en- gaged before connecting the extension cord.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
WARNING: Avoid a dangerous envi- ronment. To reduce the risk of electrical shock, do not use on wet hedges or shrub- bery. Do not use in rain, in damp or wet loca- tions, or around swimming pools, hot tubs, etc. Do not expose to snow, rain, or water to avoid the possibility of electrical shock.
SUse a voltage supply as shown on unit.
SAvoid dangerous situations. Do not use in the presence of flammable liquids or gases to avoid creating a fire or explosion and/or causing damage to unit.
STo reduce the risk of electrical shock, this equipment 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 plug does not fit fully into the wall outlet, re- verse the plug. If it 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.
STo reduce risk of electrical shock, use ex- tension cords specifically marked as suit- able for outdoor appliances having electri- cal rating not less than the rating of unit. Cord must be marked with suffix “W--A” (in Canada “W”). Make sure your extension cord is in good condition. Inspect extension cord before use and replace if damaged. Do not use a damaged cord. Cord insulation must be intact with no cracks or deteriora- tion. Plug connectors must be undamaged. An undersized extension cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting in loss of pow- er and overheating. If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge. The lower the gauge num- ber, the heavier the cord (see SELECT AN EXTENSION CORD in the OPERATION
section).
SDo not use multiple cords.
SDo not abuse cord. Never carry the unit by the extension cord or yank extension cord
to disconnect unit.
SUse cord retainer to prevent disconnection of extension cord from unit and possible damage to the unit due to plug movement (see ATTACH THE EXTENSION CORD TO YOUR TRIMMER in the OPERATION
section).
SDo not use the unit if the trigger switch does not turn the unit on and off properly. Repairs to the switch must be made by your authorized
service dealer.
S Keep the extension cord clear of operator, blades and obstacles at all times. Do not ex- pose cords to heat, oil, water, or sharp edges.
SBlades can cut extension cord. Keep the extension cord away from the blades. A cut extension cord can cause serious electrical shock to you or others.
S To avoid the possibility of electric shock, avoid body contact with any grounded con- ductor, such as metal fences or pipes.
S Inspect hedge trimmer cord periodically and if damaged, have it repaired by an au- thorized service dealer
S Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection should be provided on circuit or outlet to be used. Receptacles are avail- able having built-in GFCI protection and may be used for this measure of safety.
UNIT SAFETY
S Inspect unit before use. Damaged parts must be repaired or replaced by your autho- rized service dealer.
S Inspect entire unit, including blade and handguard, before each use. Have dam- aged parts repaired or replaced by your au- thorized service dealer. Make sure all han- dles, guards, and fasteners are in place and securely fastened.
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