Stihl HLA 85 Instruction Manual - Page 11

WARNING Never attempt to operate your power tool with one hand. Loss of control of the power tool resulting in serious or fatal injury may result. To reduce the risk of cut injuries, keep hands and feet away from the cutting blades. Never touch moving cutting blades with your hand or any other part of your body. Do not touch the cutting blades while the motor is running. If the cutting blades become jammed by thick branches or other obstructions, switch off the motor immediately, move retaining latch to ƒ and remove the battery before attempting to free the blades. WARNING Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Special care must be taken in slippery conditions (wet ground, snow) and in difficult, overgrown terrain. Watch for hidden obstacles such as tree stumps, roots and ditches to avoid stumbling. For better footing, clear away fallen branches, scrub and cuttings. Be extremely cautious when working on slopes or uneven ground. Working Conditions Operate your power tool only under good visibility and daylight conditions only. Work carefully. Do not cut any material other than hedges or similar soft vegetation. Do not cut stems greater than 17 mm (11/16 inch) thick. WARNING If the vegetation being cut or the surrounding ground is coated with a chemical substance (such as an active pesticide or herbicide), read and follow the instructions and warnings that accompanied the substance at issue. WARNING Inhalation of certain dusts, especially organic dusts such as mold or pollen, can cause susceptible persons to have an allergic or asthmatic reaction. Substantial or repeated inhalation of dust and other airborne contaminants, in particular those with a smaller particle size, may cause respiratory or other illnesses. Control dust at the source where possible. Use good work practices, such as operating the unit so that the wind or operating process directs any dust raised by the power tool away from the operator. Follow the recommendations of EPA/OSHA /NIOSH and occupational and trade associations with respect to dust ("particulate matter"). When the inhalation of dust cannot be substantially controlled, i.e., kept at or near the ambient (background) level, the operator and any bystanders should wear a respirator approved by NIOSH/MSHA for the type of dust encountered. If the hedge is very dusty or dirty, spray the blades with STIHL resin solvent from time to time during cutting. This helps reduce blade friction as well as the aggressive effects of sap and the buildup of dirt particles. Operating Instructions English WARNING In the event of an emergency, switch off the motor immediately, move retaining latch to ƒ and remove the battery. The power tool has a large range. 15m (50ft) In order to reduce the risk of personal or even fatal injury to bystanders from falling objects or inadvertent contact with the moving cutter blades of your power tool always keep bystanders at least 50 feet (15 m) away when the power tool is running. WARNING Before you start work, examine the hedge area for stones, fence wire, metal or other solid objects which could damage the cutting blades. Take particular care when cutting hedges next to or against wire fences. Do not touch the wire with the cutting blades. When working close to the ground, make sure that no sand, grit or stones get between the cutting blades. Striking solid foreign objects such as stones, fence wire or metal could damage the cutting attachment and may cause blades to crack, chip or break. STIHL does not recommend the use of your power tool when cutting in areas where the blades could contact such objects. HLA 65, HLA 85 9