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3. SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
A) TRAINING
1) Read the instructions carefully. Become a c -
quainted with the controls and the proper use of
the machine. Learn how to stop the engine qui c kly.
2) Only use the machine for the purpose for
which it was designed, namely
– c utting grass and non-woody vegetation,
u s ing a nylon line (e.g. around the edges of lawns,
flowerbeds, walls, fences and small gras s y areas
to tidy up the cutting done using a mower);
– cutting tall grass, dry branches, twigs and
woody shrubs of up to 2 cm diameter, with the
help of metal or plastic blades.
Any other use may be dangerous and damage the
machine.
Examples of improper use may include, but are not
limited to:
– u se the machine for sweeping;
– t rimming hedges or other jobs in which the cutting
device is not used on ground level;
– p runing trees;
– u sing the machine with the cutting device above
the operator's belt level;
– u sing the machine for cutting non-plant mate r ial;
– u se of the machine by more than one person.
3) Never allow children or persons unfamiliar with
these instructions to use the machine. Local re-
gulations can restrict the age of the user.
4) The machine must never be used by more than
one person.
5) Never use the machine:
– w hen people, especially children or pets are in
the vicinity;
– i f the user is tired or unwell, or has taken medi-
cine, drugs, alcohol or any substances which may
slow his reflexes and compromise his judgement;
– i f the user is not capable of holding the machine
firmly with two hands and/or remaining standing
on the ground whilst working.
6) Keep in mind that the operator or user is re s pon-
sible for accidents or hazards occurring to other
people or their property.
B) PREPARATION
1) Always wear adequate clothing which does not
hamper movements when using the machine.
– A lways wear slim-fitting protective clothing, fitted
with shear-proof protection devices.
– A lways wear a helmet, protective gloves, eye-
gog g les, a half-mask respirator and safety anti-
shear boots with non-slip soles.
– A lways wear ear and hearing protection de v i c es.
– N ever wear scarves, shirts, necklaces, or any
hanging or flapping accessory that could catch
in the machine or in any objects or materials in
the work area.
– Tie your hair back if it is long.
2) WARNING: DANGER! Petrol is highly flam-
mable:
– k eep the fuel in containers which have been spe-
cifically manufactured and homologated for such
use;
– n ever smoke when handling fuel;
– s lowly open the fuel tank to allow the pressure
inside to decrease gradually;
– t op up the tank with fuel in the open air, using a
funnel;
– a dd fuel before starting the engine. Never re m o v e
the fuel tank cap or add fuel while the en g ine is
running or when the engine is hot;
– i f you have spilt some fuel, do not attempt to start
the engine but move the machine away from the
area of spillage and avoid creating any source
of ignition until the fuel has evaporated and fuel
vapours have dissipated;
– i mmediately clean up all traces of fuel spilt on the
machine or on the ground;
– n ever start the machine in the same place you
re fi lled it with fuel;
– m ake sure your clothing does not come into con-
tact with the fuel, on the contrary, change your
clothes before starting the engine;
– a lways put the tank and fuel container caps back
on and tighten well.
3) Replace faulty or damaged silencers.
4) Before using the machine, check its general
condition and in particular:
– t he throttle trigger and the safety lever must mo v e
freely, they must not need forcing and should re-
turn automatically and rapidly back to the neutral
position;
– t he throttle trigger must remain locked until the
safety lever is pressed;
– t he engine stop switch must easily move from one
position to the other;
– t he electric cables and in particular the spark plug
cable must be in perfect condition to avoid the
generation of any sparks, and the cap must be
correctly fitted on the spark plug;
– t he machine handgrips and protection devices
must be clean and dry and well fastened to the
machine;
– t he cutting devices and guards must be un d a-
ma g ed.
5) Check the correct position of the handgrips and
the connection point of the webbing, and the proper
balance of the machine.
6) Before starting work make sure that the guards
are suitable for the cutting tool being used and are
fitted correctly.
7) Thoroughly inspect the whole work area and
remove anything that could be thrown up by the
ma c hine or damage the cutting group or engine
(sto n es, branches, iron wire, bones, etc.).
C) OPERATION
1) Do not start the engine in a confined space
where dangerous carbon monoxide fumes can col-
lect.
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS