5
General Operation
(continued)
Lightning can cause severe injury or death. If
you see
lightning or hear thunder in the area,
do not operate the
machine; seek shelter.
Stop the engine and wait until the blade
comes to a
complete stop before cleaning the
machine, removing
grass catcher, or
unclogging the discharge guard.
Warning: Slopes are a major factor related to slip
and fall accidents, which can result in severe injury.
Operation on all slopes
require extra caution. If you
feel uneasy on a slope, do not
mow it.
•
Mow across the face of slopes; never up and
down. Exercise extreme caution when changing
direction on slopes.
•
Do not mow on wet grass or excessively steep
slopes. Poor footing could cause a slip and fall
accident.
•
Watch for holes, ruts, bumps, rocks, exposed roots
or other hidden
objects. Uneven terrain could
cause a slip and fall
accident. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
•
Do not mow near drop-offs, ditches, or
embankments. You could lose your footing or
balance.
Slope Operation
Children and Pets
Tragic accidents can occur if the operator is not alert
to the
presence of children or pets. Children are
often attracted to the
machine and the mowing
activity. Never assume that children
and pets
will
remain where you last saw them.
Be alert and turn mower off if a child or pet
enters the area.
Keep children and pets out of the mowing area
and under the
watchful care of a responsible
adult other than the
operator.
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 or pet.
Be especially watchful of children and pets
darting into the area while operating.
Safe Handling of Gasoline
Gasoline is extremely
are explosive. To avoid personal injury or property
damage, use
extreme care in handling gasoline.
Warning: Exhaust contains carbon monoxide,
an orderless, deadly poison that can kill you.
Do not run the engine indoors or in an enclosed
area
Extinguish all cigarettes, cigars, pipes, and other
sources of ignition.
Never store the machine or fuel container where
there is
on a water
heater or on other appliances.
Do not fuel machine in an enclosed room or near
Outdoor refueling is recommended.
Use only an approved gasoline container.
Allow engine to cool before refueling.
Never remove gas cap or add fuel while the engine
is
running.
or
trailer bed with a plastic liner. Always place
containers on
the ground away from your vehicle
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.
