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Lance
Fluegel and Bradley
Rein
University of Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Read
or review the operator's manual to familiarize yourself
with the mower and controls.
- Make
certain all safety devices are in place and operating. Be
sure the mower is equipped with a working engine interlock
and a "deadman" control.
- Wear
close-fitting clothes, sturdy non-slip safety shoes, eye
protection and ear protection. (no bare feet, sandals, or
sneakers)
- Fill
the fuel tank out of doors with the engine stopped and cool.
Wipe off any spills. Do not smoke while filling.
- Adjust
the cutting height and check the condition of the blade.
Be sure the engine is shut off. Sharpen the blade if necessary.
- Disconnect
the spark plug wire and wear heavy leather gloves to remove
and/or replace the blades.
- Never
wear gloves while sharpening the blade on a power grinder
as the gloves could be caught and pulled into the grinding
wheel.
- Pick
up all debris in the lawn.
- Keep
children and pets out of the area. Never allow children
to ride on the mower with you.
- Do
not allow children to operate the mower until you are sure
they have the physical size and mental maturity to do so.
Properly instruct them on safe operation at that time.
- Be
sure the mower and transmission are disengaged before starting
the engine.
- Start
the engine out of doors to avoid buildup of dangerous fumes.
- Drive
the mower up and down gentle slopes for best stability.
Back up moderate slopes. Avoid steep slopes completely.
- Turn
off the engine and wait for moving parts to stop before
dismounting. Remove the key!
- Slow
down when turning sharply and on slopes to avoid tipping.
- Always
look behind you for small children, pets, or obstructions,
before backing the mower.
- Disconnect
the spark plug wire before attempting to service, adjust,
or repair the mower.
- Keep
the discharge chute pointed away from buildings, people,
and animals.
- Keep
hands and feet away from all moving parts.
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Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This document
is
8831-L
,
a series of the the Cooperative Extension, the University
of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85719. Publication date: May 1989.
Lance
Fluegel, Safety Coordinator and Bradley Rein, Engineering
Specialist, the College of Agriculture, the University of
Arizona, AZ 85719.
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