Exmark MOWING SAFETY TIPS Overview

MOWING SAFETY TIPS

WELCOME TO THE EXMARK FAMILY

Thank you for choosing an Exmark
zero-turn mower. These safety
recommendations are intended for
operator’s of Exmark’s consumer mowers.
Safety recommendations for Exmark
commercial mowers can be found at
www.exmark.com/safetytips.htm.

With your purchase comes the
responsibility to use your new mower
properly and safely! This brochure concerns
your safety and the safety of those around
you. PLEASE read it carefully!

Exmark products are built with safety in
mind. Our mowers meet or exceed current
industry and government safety standards;
however, their proper use depends on
YOU! Exmark mowers are designed to cut
grass and they do this to perfection.

A lawn mower does not
know the difference
between a blade of
grass and a finger or a
toe. Most mower-related
accidents are caused by

negligent and careless
behavior. It is up to you, the user, to stay
away from moving parts.

REMEMBER:

A moment of carelessness could lead to a
lifetime of regret.

SAFE OPERATING RULES FOR WALK­BEHIND AND RIDING MOWERS

The same caution should be exercised
when operating a lawn mower as driving
an automobile. The following rules are
intended to help you avoid possible
injury or even death. Most safe operating
instructions apply whether you are using a
riding mower or a walk-behind mower and
should always be observed.

Before performing any service to the
mower, such as changing the oil or
removing the blade for sharpening, stop
the machine and wait for all moving parts
to stop. Always pull the wire off the spark
plug and push it aside so it does not
accidently contact the spark plug. This will
ensure that the engine does not start.

DO NOT alter governor settings. See
your Exmark dealer if your mower is not
performing properly.

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1. READ THE OPERATOR’S

MANUAL THOROUGHLY!

3. LEAVE ALL SAFETY
FEATURES INTACT!

Operator’s Manuals address the use and
reasonably foreseeable misuse of the
mower. The manuals are written by Exmark
employees familiar with the operation of
the mowers, their capabilities and their
limitations. Engineers who designed the
machines are also involved in the writing of
the Operator’s Manuals.

Keep the Operator’s Manual in a place
where you can find it when needed.

Pay particular attention to the safety
instructions. Insist that all individuals who
will be operating the mower read and
understand the Operator’s Manual and this
brochure at the beginning of each mowing
season.

SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL

This symbol is important to
your personal safety and the
safety of those in the area.
When you see it, read the

accompanying message carefully.

2. KNOW HOW TO STOP
THE MACHINE QUICKLY!

Guards, shields, deflectors, and warnings
decals are on the machine for your
protection and that of others.

DO NOT remove or disable a safety
feature because it seems to be an
inconvenience. If a safety feature should be
lost or damaged or a decal should become
illegible discontinue use of the mower until
the damaged or missing parts are repaired
or replaced.

The discharge deflector is designed to
direct thrown objects downward into the
grass. They also help prevent accidental
contact with the blade.

DO NOT
remove or
disable a
deflector,
shield, or
guard.
DO NOT
operate the
mower if the
discharge deflector is in any position other
than the normal operating position.

Before doing anything else, check the
operation of the blade stopping feature. If
the blade stopping feature is not working
properly, DO NOT operate the mower
until the problem has been located and
corrected. See your Exmark dealer to be
sure.

NEVER leave the operator’s position

without first
stopping the
machine.

If the discharge deflector is ever damaged,
replace it immediately.

NEVER put your hands or feet under the
mower.

NEVER try to clear the discharge area or
mower blades unless the engine is stopped
and the spark plug wire has been pulled off.

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Be certain that no persons or pets are in

STOP

STOP

STOP

the vicinity of a mower when it is in use,
as a thrown object which hits a sidewalk,
driveway, or other hard surface can
ricochet upward. Stop mowing if a person
or foreign object appears in your mowing
area.

4. CLEAR THE MOWING AREA!

The mower blade rotates at an extremely
high speed! It is shaped to create an
upward draft under the housing, a
vacuuming action, to stand the grass up
for a cleaner cut. Because of this, the blade
can pick up debris, such as small rocks,
wires, and broken glass, and throw it out
the discharge port with considerable force.
The operator should use extreme caution
to minimize the risks from these thrown
objects by taking these precautions.

This is the only way to avoid possible injury
to that person or damage to objects in the
cutting area.

DO NOT operate a rear bagger or a
mower with a mulching attachment unless
the discharge door is closed, or the bag,
mulch plug or side discharge attachment is
properly secured.

Check the grass-catching bag frequently
as it is subject to deterioration. If it is worn
or damaged, replace it with a new bag. A
hole or a weak spot in the bag could allow
a foreign object to be thrown into

the

operator’s position or the surrounding area.

If you notice damage to the mower such as
loose screws, missing bolts, broken parts,
or anything abnormal, STOP the engine,
wait for all moving parts to stop, and
correct the condition before you resume
mowing.

Check all parts periodically for wear or
deterioration and replace as required with
genuine Exmark parts.

Exmark parts are designed and tested
specifically for use on Exmark products. If a
part on your mower must be replaced, use
a genuine Exmark part.

Before starting
the mower,
walk around
the area and
pick up any
rocks, wires,
sticks, and other objects that the blade
might pick up and throw. Be careful about
this.

REMEMBER once an object has been
thrown and caused injury, it is too late to
think about what should have been done!
Keep everyone out of the area being
mowed. If children are playing in the back
yard, cut the front yard, and vice versa.
Better still, send them into the house while
you are mowing. A child can dart in front
of the mower in a fraction of a second, and
that’s all it takes for an accident.

If someone enters the yard while you’re
mowing, turn off the mower and wait until
he or she leaves the area before restarting
the mower.

NEVER cross driveways or paths with the
blade rotating. The blade can pick up and
throw gravel or loose rocks.

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