23
22
CUL
TIV
A
TOR
EDGER
PRUNING SA
W
HEDGE TRIMMER
BRUSHCUTTER
Ensuring Safe Operation
CAUTION
To ensure safety, strictly observe the following instructions. Failure to
do so can lead to personal injury or severe damage to the machine.
1. Pre-operation inspection
Carefully inspect and perform any necessary maintenance before
starting the machine. Failure to do so can lead to severe property
damage or damage to the machine.
a. Tighten or replace loose or lost screws.
b. Replace any damaged or worn parts.
c. Check for spilled fuel. Check the fuel tank cap and wipe off any
spilled fuel.
d. Check the cutting blades for chips, cracks, deformation, and
excessive wear.
For more information, see
Inspection and maintenance
.
2. Removing obstacles from the work area
Before starting operation, remove obstacles from the work area. Be
extremely careful about obstacles that can trip the operator, such as
tree roots, stumps, and holes.
3. Marking the hazard area
A circular area within a radius of 15 meters of the machine is the
hazard area. When necessary, mark the rope and post a warning
sign.
4. Wearing the Harness
•
Put on the harness before starting to work with the machine.
•
Adjust the length of the harness belt so that you can hold the
machine comfortably.
5. Starting the engine
•
In some cases, the cutting blades can suddenly begin to run
when the engine is started. Keep a safe distance from the
blades when starting the engine.
•
Make sure that no bystanders are within 15 meters before
starting the engine.
•
Place the machine on flat solid ground before starting the
engine.
•
Ensure that nothing is in contact with the cutting blades,
including the ground.
6. Preparing for work
Gain experience at first by cutting an imaginary hedge.
7. Safety Precautions
•
Hold the machine securely with both hands. Grip the control
handle with your right hand; hold the grip with your left hand.
•
To maintain a stable posture, adopt a stance wider than
shoulder width.
•
Maintain a firm footing.
•
Shut off the engine if abnormal noise or vibration occurs, if an
emergency occurs, or when putting down the machine.
•
If someone calls out or otherwise interrupts you while working,
always shut off the engine before turning around.
•
Plan a clear escape route should you need to avoid falling
items.
•
Before starting work, remove tree branches, leaves and other
obstacles that can limit your field of vision.
•
Determine the falling path of cut debris based on the angle of
the hedge or foliage being cut, the presence of obstacles, and
the topography and wind direction.
•
To avoid injury from falling foliage, remain aware of the path of
falling foliage while working. Do not stand right below the area
you are cutting.
8. Cutting pattern
•
Do not attempt to cut branches exceeding 5 mm in diameter.
•
When cutting longer branches or cutting deeply into a hedge,
cut in several stages.
•
During the trimming work, the cutting blades can become
jammed with twigs or get snagged by branches and the like. If
this occurs, shut off the engine before removing the cause of
the jam.
•
Run the engine at speeds between 5.500 and 8.000 rpm to
suit the working conditions.
9. Special precautions when two or more machines are in use
When two or more machines are in use simultaneously, it is
essential that all operators use extreme care to maintain a safe
distance from each other, constantly look around, and always
remain aware of presence of the other operators to ensure safe
operation.
10. Abnormal noise and vibration
•
If the machine suddenly exhibits abnormal noise or vibration,
immediately shut off the engine.
•
If abnormal vibration or noise occurs, check for damage to the
cutting blades, loose screws, or other failure. Check the entire
machine for any sign of a problem.
•
After the cause has been found, do not use the machine until
you have completed the repair.
10. Exhaust Gas Precautions
DANGER
Do not run the engine in a room or in any confined area where
exhaust emissions can accumulate. Doing so can result in an
accumulation of carbon monoxide and other poisonous gases that
can cause death or severe poisoning.
11. Cutting Blades Precautions
DANGER
•
Keep your hands and feet a safe distance from the cutting
blades while the hedge trimmer is in operation.
•
If you need to touch the cutting blades in order to dislodge a
twig or the like, first shut off the engine and allow the cutting
blades to come to a full stop.
•
Even after the cutting blades have stopped, wear heavyduty
gloves and handle the cutting blades with care. The edges
of the cutting blades are very sharp and can cause death or
severe injury.
12. The Hazard Area
WARNING
•
Keep the working end of the machine at least 15 m away from
overhead power lines, telephone wires, and all other cables.
The machine is not insulated against external electric shock.
Electric shock can lead to death or severe injury.
•
Do not operate the device within 15 meters of a child, animal,
or bystander. Consider a 15-meter radius around the device to
be a “hazard area.”
•
If someone approaches the hazard area, immediately shut off
the engine.
Operation of the machine can result in falling or flying objects that
can lead to death or severe injury.
13. Limit your worktime
WARNING
•
Do not operate the machine for more than 2 hours a day.
•
Rest for 10 to 20 minutes after every 30 to 40 minutes of
operation.Continuing to operate the machine without a
break can result in excessive fatigue. The resulting loss of
attentiveness can lead to an accident or problems with your
fingers or hands. If you experience any abnormal symptoms
such as pain, discomfort, or paralysis of the fingers or hand,
immediately stop operating the machine and seek medical
attention.
14. Avoiding Electric Shock
WARNING
Never touch the spark plug cap or high-voltage wire while the
device is running. Doing so can result in a highvoltage electric shock
that can cause death or severe injury.
15. Avoiding Burns
CAUTION
Never touch the muffler, muffler cover, exhaust pipe, cylinder or
cylinder head while the machine is running or immediately after
operation, as they become very hot.
Doing so can cause burns.
16. Using the Blade Cover
CAUTION
•
When the hedge trimmer is not being used, keep the blade
cover on the cutting blades.
•
Before transporting the hedge trimmer, shut off the engine
and place the blade cover on the cutting blades. Transport the
hedge trimmer with care. The cutting blades are sharp and can
cause injury.
•
If transporting the machine in a vehicle, secure it to prevent
it from moving around. If the device can move freely during
transport, the fuel can spill or the device can be damaged.
