Trimmer & Brush Cutter Safety
Honda Handheld Safety Information & Features
Your Honda handheld is equipped with several significant safety features. Fully understanding each function is the key to helping ensure safe operation.
It is important to familiarize yourself with your product and its features, design, and operation before use – even if you have operated similar power products in the past.
Please read and fully understand your owner's manual and see the information below for Honda handheld trimmer and brush cutter safety tips, precautions, and measures and how to safely operate them.
Ultra Quiet Operation
Strong low-end torque and a standard premium Honda Quiet Line™ help reduce noise by over 5 decibels, helping you hear more of your surroundings.
Strong Blade Guard
Enjoy added protection from stray debris with guards made of high-quality plastic or steel.
Safety Goggles & Harness Included
American National Standards Institute (ANSI) approved goggles and harness that helps keep the trimmer away from your body included.
*Disclaimer: users are advised to check the owner's manual to confirm available product safety features prior to use.
Honda Handhelds Safety Tips
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A Few Words About Safety
Your safety and the safety of others are very important.
This information alerts you to potential hazards that could hurt you or others.
It is not practical or possible to warn you about all the hazards associated with operating or maintaining your Honda handheld. You must use your own good judgement.
Your safety is your responsibility. A little time spent in preparation could significantly reduce your risk of injury.
Read and understand your owner's manual.
Know what the controls do and how to operate them.
Familiarize yourself with your handheld and its operation before you begin using it.
Know how to quickly shut off your Honda handheld in case of emergency.
Keep Your Handheld in Safe Operating Condition
Honda trimmer/brush cutters are designed to cut grass, weeds, brush, and/or wood if equipped with an appropriate cutting attachment. Other uses can result in injury to the operator or damage to the trimmer and other property.
If you stop trimming or cutting for any reason, even to clean off the cutting attachment, always shut off the engine.
Read the manual before operating the trimmer. Understand how to use all the controls and obey all warnings.
The cutting attachment should be examined for looseness, cracks, broken parts, or excessive wear. Tighten or replace as needed before operating the trimmer.
Always perform a pre-operation inspection before each operation, and correct any problem.
Improper assembly can cause an unsafe condition that can lead to serious injury or death. Follow the procedures and precautions in the assembly instructions carefully.
Although aftermarket attachments may fit on your Honda trimmer, they may not meet factory specifications and could make your trimmer unsafe.
Do not remove the protective debris shield or modify your Honda trimmer in any way that would alter its design or operation. This could make your trimmer unsafe.
Help Keep Yourself Safe
The most frequent injuries associated with string trimmers are eye injuries caused by thrown debris. Always wear safety glasses included with trimmers or goggles that meet the ANSI Z87.1 rating whenever you use the trimmer.
The operator must wear hearing protectors when using this trimmer. Hearing protectors will help protect the operator's ears from noise damage.
Wearing protective clothing can also help reduce the risk and severity of injury from thrown debris or contact with the cutting attachment. Wear the trimmer harness, gloves, a long-sleeved shirt, long pants, and sturdy boots with nonslip soles. Once again, do not forget to wear eye protection.
A spinning cutting blade can cut through your clothes and skin just as easily as it cuts through grass and dirt. Keep all parts of your body away from a spinning cutting attachment.
Even after the engine has stopped, the cutting attachment will spin for several seconds. Do not touch it until it has stopped spinning, or you may get cut.
Honda recommends using gasoline without ethanol in your Honda trimmer.
Gasoline is highly flammable and explosive. You can be burned or seriously injured when handling fuel.
Stop the engine and keep away from heat, sparks, and flames.
Handle fuel only outdoors. Wipe up spills immediately.
Move at least 10 feet (3 metres) away from the fuelling source and site before starting the engine.
The harness is designed to help keep the trimmer away from your body, lowering your chances of being cut by the trimmer's blade or cutting line.
Keep Safety of Others in Mind
Clear the area/keep all children, bystanders, and pets at least 50 feet (15 metres) away from where the trimmer is being operated.
If anyone approaches you while you are operating the trimmer, release the throttle lever and stop the engine.
Never allow children to use the trimmer. Adults unfamiliar with using a trimmer should consult the owner's manual before attempting operation.
Keep in mind that the owner or user is responsible for accidents or damage occurring to other people or their property.
In the event of hire use, be sure that operational explanations are given in the presence of the user.
To help reduce fire hazard, keep the trimmer engine and the gasoline storage area free of grass, leaves, or excessive grease.
Before operating the trimmer, inspect the area in which you are going to operate it. Remove any debris and other obstacles that may cause injury or damage to operators, others or the trimmer.
Turn engine off when not in use.
If you need to leave the trimmer unattended for any reason, always turn the engine off.
Never permit anyone to operate the trimmer without proper instruction.
For your safety and the safety of others, never operate the trimmer in darkness or in poor lighting conditions.
Important Message to Parents
Trimmers are tools, not toys. As with any equipment, bad judgment can result in serious injuries.
Please ensure you are familiar with local laws, and have carefully read and reviewed your owner’s manual, before making any decisions with respect to the operation of your trimmer by a minor.
Occasional Users
Before you ask anyone to operate your trimmer, you need to determine whether the person is old enough and strong enough to safely handle and properly control the trimmer.
If you decide to let someone else use your trimmer, make sure the occasional user reads and understands all instructions and warnings in the owner's manual and on the labels before operating the trimmer.
Allow adequate time for hands-on training, and personally supervise practice sessions until you feel sure the person is ready to operate the machine.
Also, be sure the person wears proper clothing and has eye protection and any other gear that may be required by local ordinances or your insurance company.
Remember that you are responsible for keeping the Honda trimmer properly maintained and in safe operating condition for occasional users.
