en
9
SAFETY RULES
brush cutter, use the appropriate blade
guard (Fig. 3). When transporting in a
vehicle, keep blade covered with the
guard. Properly secure your brush cutter to
prevent turnover, fuel
spillage and damage.
• Do not operate a brush cutter with
one hand! Serious injury to the operator,
helpers, bystanders, or any combination of
these persons may result from one-handed
operation. A brush cutter is intended for
two-handed use.
• Before you start the engine, make sure the
cutting attachment is not contacting any
object.
• Shut off the engine before setting down
the brush cutter. Do not leave the engine
running unattended.
• Only use the brush cutter in well-ventilated
places, do not operate the brush cutter
in explosive or fl ammable atmospheres or
in closed environments. Beware of carbon
monoxide poisoning.
• Do not operate brush cutter from a ladder
or in a tree. Always cut from a fi rm-footed
and safe position.
WARNING: Take great care when
working on sloping ground.
• Do not cut near electric cables.
• Keep the handles dry, clean, and free of oil
or fuel mixture.
• Never cut with the brush cutter above
shoulder height.
• Never use the brush cutter without blade
guard or the head guard.
• Do not start the engine with the arm not
mounted.
Precautions Against Kickout
WARNING: Avoid kickout which
can result in serious injury.
Kickout is the sideward, or
sudden forward motion of the
machine occurring when the
blade contacts any object such
as a log or stone, or when the
wood closes in and pinches the
saw blade in the cut. Contacting
a foreign object can also result in
loss of brush cutter control.
Reduce the Risk of Kickout
WARNING: Recognize that
kickout can happen. With a basic
understanding of kickout, you can
reduce the element of surprise
which contributes to accidents.
• Never let the moving blade contact any
object.
•
Keep the working area free from
obstructions such as other trees, branches,
rocks, fences, stumps, etc. Eliminate or
avoid any obstruction that your blade could
hit while you are cutting.
•
Keep your blade sharp. Follow
manufacturer’s blade sharpening and
maintenance instructions.
• Begin and continue cutting at full speed.
If the blade is moving at a slower speed,
there is greater chance of kickout
occurring.
Maintain Control
• Keep a good, fi rm grip on the brush cutter
with both hands when the engine is running
and don’t let go (Fig. 2). A fi rm grip will help
you reduce kickout and maintain control of
the brush cutter.
Keep the fi ngers encircling the handle.
• Stand with your weight evenly balanced on
both feet.
• Do not overreach. You could be drawn or
thrown off balance and lose control of the
brush cutter.