SAFETY
Protect Children
• Death or serious injury can occur when young children associate having
fun with a lawn equipment simply because someone has given them a ride
on a machine.
• Children are attracted to lawn equipment and activities.
They don’t understand the dangers or the fact that the operator is unaware
of their presence.
• Children who have been given rides in the past may suddenly appear in
the work area for another ride and be run over or backed over by the
machine.
• Tragic accidents with children can occur if the operator is not alert to the
presence of children, especially when a child approaches a machine from
behind. Before and while backing up, look down and behind the machine
carefully, especially for children.
• Never carry children on a machine or attachment. Do not tow children
in a cart or trailer. They can fall off and be seriously injured or interfere
with safe machine operation.
• Never use the machine as a recreational vehicle or to entertain children.
• Never allow children or an untrained person operate the machine.
Instruct all operators not to give children a ride on the machine or in an
attachment.
• Keep children indoors, out of the work area, and in the watchful eye of
a responsible adult, other than the operator, when a machine is being
operated.
• Stay alert to the presence of children. Never assume that children will
remain where you last saw them. Turn the machine off if a child enters the
work area.
Avoid Tipping
• Slopes are a major factor related to loss-of-control and tip-over
accidents, which can result in severe injury or death. Operation on all
slopes requires extra caution.
• Blow across slopes, not up and down.
• Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, or other hidden objects. Uneven
terrain could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide obstacles.
• Choose a low ground speed so you will not have to stop while on a slope.
• Do not blow or operate machine on wet grass. Tires may lose traction.
• Tires may lose traction on slopes even though the brakes are functioning
properly.
• Avoid starting, stopping or turning on a slope. If the tires lose traction,
turn and proceed slowly, straight down the slope.
• Keep all movement on slopes slow and gradual. Do not make sudden
changes in speed or direction, which could cause the machine to roll over.
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