I just bought a new hedge trimmer. In the instructions, there’s a paragraph on “Attaching Extension Cord to Trimmer,” followed by two tiny, indecipherable illustrations.
*“An extension cord retainer is built into the switch handle that helps prevent the tool from coming unplugged. To use this feature, first overlap the pigtail cord with the extension cord and tie the two cords in a knot as shown in figure 2. Then, double the extension cord several inches from the end, and hook the loop formed by doubling the cord over the post in the opening in the back of the handle area as shown in figure 2A. Gently tug on the cord to insure that it is firmly retained in the trimmer’s handle.”
*Yeah, I know all about making a little loop when using an extension cord. Is the rest of this crap really necessary?
I hope there was the usual warning about not using while sleeping or showering and to keep your fingers away from the sharp edges. I always like the little stick-figure drawings of the guy cutting off his stick fingers with two drops of blood falling out.
I know a lot of people (many in construction) who do not seem to know to do that, so it appears to be a nice suggestion to offer to people who are unaware of the practice.
A general rule of thumb is that the warnings are there because someone has already screwed it up and sued the company for their own negligence, so they feel the need to treat you like a six-year-old to prevent lawsuits.
In other words, don’t blame the company, blame the consumers.
No. You can’t really exclude anyone. Heck there’s a thread in GD (I think) where something like 50% of the posters there admit to violating the safety warnings on a common household product. Boilerplate becomes such because of case law.
Heck, haven’t you seen the claims in the death last year of the woman who burned herself with hairspray that the warnings on that can weren’t sufficient?
