SAFETY RULES
&
Safe Operation
Practices
for Ride=On Mowers
ill. CHILDREN
WARNING. CHILDRENCANBEINJUREDBY
THIS EQUIPMENT. The American Academy
of Pediatrics recommends that children be a
minimum of 12 year of age before operating
a pedestrian controlled lawn mower and a
minimum of 16 years of age before operating
a riding lawn mower.
Tragic accidents
can occur if the operator
is not alert to the
presence of children.
Children are often attracted to the ma-
chine and the mowing activity.
Never assume that children
will remain where you last saw them.
•
Keep children out of the mowing area and in the watchful
care of a responsible
adult other than the operator.
•
Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area.
•
Before and while backing, look behind and down for small
children.
•
Never carry children, even with the blades shut off. They
may fall off and be seriously
injured or interfere with safe
machine
operation.
Children who have been given rides
in the past may suddenly
appear in the mowing area for
another ride and be run over or backed over bythe machine.
•
Never allow children to operate the machine.
•
Use extra care when approaching
blind corners, shrubs,
trees, or other objects that may block your view of a child.
iV. TOWING
•
Tow only with a machine
that has a hitch designed
for
towing. Do not attach towed equipment
except at the hitch
point.
•
Follow the manufacturer's
recommendation
for weight
limits for towed equipment
and towing on slopes.
•
Never allow children or others in or on towed equipment.
•
On slopes, the weight of the towed equipment
may cause
loss of traction and loss of control.
•
Travel slowly and allow extra distance to stop.
V. SERVICE
SAFE HANDLING OF GASOLINE
To avoid personal
injury or property
damage,
use extreme
care in handling
gasoline.
Gasoline
is extremely
flammable
and the vapors are explosive.
•
Extinguish
all cigarettes,
cigars, pipes, and other sources
of ignition.
•
Use only approved
gasoline container.
•
Never remove gas cap or add fuel with the engine running.
Allow engine to cool before refueling.
•
Never fuel the machine
indoors.
•
Never store the machine
or fuel container
where there
is an open flame, spark, or pilot light such as on a water
heater or other appliances.
•
Never fill containers
inside a vehicle
or on a truck or
trailer bed with plastic liner. Always
place containers
on
the ground away from your vehicle when filling.
•
Remove gas-powered
equipment
from the truck or trailer
and refuel it on the ground.
If this is not possible,
then
refuel such equipment
with a portable
container,
rather
than from a gasoline dispenser
nozzle.
•
Keep the nozzle in contact with the rim of the fuel tank or
container
opening
at all times until fueling
is complete.
Do not use a nozzle lock-open device.
•
If fuel is spilled on clothing, change clothing immediately.
•
Never
overfill fuel tank.
Replace
gas cap and tighten
securely.
GENERAL
SERVICE
•
Never operate machine
in a closed area.
•
Keep all nuts and bolts tight to ensure the equipment
is
in safe working
condition.
•
Never tamper
with safety
devices.
Check their proper
operation
regularly.
•
Keep machine free of grass, leaves, or other debris build-
up. Clean oil or fuel spillage and remove any fuel-soaked
debris.
Allow machine to cool before storing.
•
Ifyou strike a foreign object, stop and inspect the machine.
Repair, if necessary,
before restarting.
•
Never make any adjustments
or repairs with the engine
running.
•
Check grass catcher components
and the discharge chute
frequently and replace with manufacturer's
recommended
parts, when necessary.
•
Mower blades are sharp. Wrap the blade or wear gloves,
and use extra caution when servicing them.
•
Check brake operation frequently.
Adjust and service as
required.
•
Maintain or replace safety and instruction
labels, as nec-
essary.
•
Ensure the area is clear of bystanders
before operating.
Stop machine
if anyone enters the area.
•
Never carry passengers.
•
Do not mow in reverse
unless
absolutely
necessary.
Always look down and behind before and while backing.
•
Never carry children, even with the blades shut off. They
may fall off and be seriously
injured or interfere with safe
machine operation.
Children who have been given rides
in the past may suddenly
appear
in the mowing
area
for another
ride and be run over or backed over by the
machine.
•
Keep children out of the mowing area and in the watchful
care of a responsible
adult other than the operator.
•
Be alert and turn machine off if a child enters the area.
•
Before and while backing, look behind and down for small
children.
•
Mow up and down slopes (15 ° Max), not across.
•
Choose
a low ground speed so that you will not have to
stop or shift while on the slope.
•
Avoid starting, stopping,
or turning on a slope.
If the tires
lose traction,
disengage
the blades and proceed slowly
straight down the slope.
•
If machine
stops while going uphill, disengage
blades,
shift into reverse and back down slowly.
•
Do not turn on slopes unless necessary,
and then, turn
slowly and gradually
downhill,
if possible.
•
When loading or unloading this machine,
do not exceed
the maximum
recommended
operation
angle of 15 °.
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