Stihl RMA 510 Product Instruction Manual - Page 11

WARNING To reduce the risk of cut injuries, never put hands or feet near or under the machine or near the ejection chute. Never touch a moving cutting blade with your hand or any other part of your body. To reduce the risk of injury, never attempt to clear clippings or debris from cutting blade, deck or ejection chute without first switching off motor and removing fuse key and battery. WARNING Release the switch lever and wait for the cutting blade to come to a complete stop before removing the grass bag or wheeling the mower over surfaces other than grass. Stay behind the handle when the motor of the mower is running. WARNING Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Special care must be taken in slippery conditions and in difficult, overgrown terrain. Watch for hidden obstacles such as tree stumps, roots and ditches to avoid stumbling. Tall grass can hide obstacles and debris. Do not mow near drop offs, ditches or embankments. You could lose your footing and balance. Be extremely cautious when working on slopes or uneven ground. Slopes are a major factor related to slip and fall accidents, which in turn can result in severe injury. Do not mow extremely steep slopes. To reduce the risk of injury, do not operate your machine on slopes with a grade of more than 25%. If you feel uneasy on a slope, do not mow it. WARNING Mow parallel to the slope, never up or down. Take particular care when changing direction on slopes. Do not pull the mower backwards unless absolutely necessary. Always look down and behind before and while mowing backwards. Working Conditions Operate your mower only under good visibility and daylight conditions. Work carefully. 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 involved. 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 English practices, such as operating the mower 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. Operating Instructions Start the mower on a flat surface. Do not tilt the mower when you switch on the motor. Do not switch on the mower in high grass. For specific starting instructions, see the chapter "Switching On" in the instruction manual. WARNING Keep hands and feet away from cutting blade. WARNING In the event of an emergency, switch off the motor immediately by releasing the switch lever and remove the fuse key and battery. RMA 510 9