This document gives safety requirements and measures for their verification for the design and construction of portable hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers (hereafter called machines) having an integral combustion engine as their power unit and mechanical power transmission between the power source and the cutting attachment. Methods for the elimination or reduction of hazards arising from the use of these machines and the type of information on safe working practices to be provided by the manufacturer are specified.

This document deals with all significant hazards, hazardous situations and hazardous events relevant to these machines, as well as when they are used as intended and under conditions of misuse which are reasonably foreseeable by the manufacturer.

This document is not applicable to machines equipped with metallic cutting attachments consisting of more than one piece, such as pivoting chains or flail blades.

NOTE       See Annex C for a list of significant hazards.

This document is applicable to portable, hand-held, powered brush-cutters and grass-trimmers manufactured after its date of publication.