Ryobi RY3714 User Manual 2 - Page 5

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS WARNING! When using electric gardening appliances, basic safety precautions should always be followed to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and personal injury. READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS  For safe operation, read and understand all instructions before using this product. Follow all safety instructions. Failure to follow all safety instructions listed below, can result in serious personal injury.  Do not allow children or untrained individuals to use this unit.  Check the work area before each use. Remove all objects such as rocks, broken glass, nails, wire, or string which can be thrown or become entangled in any part of the machine.  Always wear eye protection with side shields marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1. Following this rule will reduce the risk of serious personal injury.  Use Safety Glasses - Always use face or dust mask if operation is dusty.  Protect your lungs. Wear a face or dust mask if the operation is dusty. Following this rule will reduce the risk of serious personal injury.  Dress Properly - Use of rubber gloves and substantial footwear is recommended when working outdoors. Wear heavy, long pants, long sleeves, boots, and gloves. Do not wear loose fitting clothing, short pants, sandals or similar lightweight footwear, jewelery of any kind, or go barefoot. Use of footwear and gloves with electrical protection is recommended. Footwear should protect feet and improve footing on slippery surfaces.  Secure long hair above shoulder level to prevent entanglement in moving parts.  Keep children away - Keep all bystanders, children, and pets at least 50 ft. away.  Stay alert - Watch what you are doing. Use common sense. Do not operate this unit when you are tired, ill, upset, or under the influence of alcohol, drugs, or medication.  Do not operate in poor lighting.  Keep all parts of your body away from any moving part.  Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases, or dust. Power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.  Avoid body contact with grounded surfaces such as pipes, radiators, ranges, and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric shock if your body is grounded.  Avoid Dangerous Environments - Don't expose appliance to rain or wet conditions. Water entering an appliance will increase the risk of electric shock.  Use Right Appliance - Do not use appliance for any job except that for which it is intended. Use the correct tool for your application.  Don't Force Appliance - It will do the job better and with less likelihood of a risk of injury at the rate for which it was designed.  Do not overreach - Keep firm footing and balance. Overreaching can result in loss of balance.  Avoid accidental starting - Be sure switch trigger is in the locked or off position before inserting battery pack. Carrying tools with your finger on the switch trigger or inserting the battery pack into a tool with the switch on invites accidents.  Do not use tool if switch trigger does not turn it on or off. Any tool that cannot be controlled with the switch trigger is dangerous and must be repaired.  Disconnect power head - Disconnect battery pack from the appliance before storing, servicing, or changing accessories such as cutting line. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of starting the tool accidentally.  Use only identical manufacturer's replacement parts and accessories. Use of any other parts may create a hazard or cause product damage.  Maintain appliance with care - Replace string head if cracked, chipped, or damaged in any way. Be sure the string head is properly installed and securely fastened. Failure to do so can cause serious injury. Follow instructions for lubrication and changing accessories. Inspect charger cord periodically and, if damaged, have it replaced. Keep power head handles dry, clean, and free from grease and oil.  Check Damaged Parts - Before further use of the appliance, a guard or other part that is damaged should be carefully checked to determine that it will operate properly and perform its function. Check for alignment of moving parts, binding of moving parts, breakage of parts, mounting and any other condition that may effect its operation. A guard or other part that is damaged should be properly repaired or replaced by an authorized service center unless indicated elsewhere in this manual.  Keep hands and feet away from cutting area.  Make sure all guards, straps, deflectors and handles are properly and securely attached.  Use only the manufacturer's replacement string in the cutting head when using a string trimmer attachment. Do not use any other cutting attachment, for example, metal wire, rope, or the like. To install any other brand of cutting head to the string trimmer attachment can result in serious personal injury. 3 - English