It is a side lever spring air rifle with a recoiless sled system. To cock and load, there is a button on the side lever that releases it. The lever is pulled all the way sideways to the rear. You will hear a ratcheting sound which is the anti-bear trap (it keeps your fingers from getting pinched). The .177 pellet is loaded into the breach of the barrel with the skirt to the rear. The lever is then closed. The only safety is that the trigger will not allow it to fire unless the cocking lever is all the way latched. There is nothing else to disengage.
Note: This trigger is likely going to be lighter than anything else you have shot. It is a two stage where the first is just the weight of the trigger blade. It will let off very crisply, but due to the slide mechanism, the trigger will disappear from your finger.
Like with all spring airguns, you should not dry fire it, though the manual that came with them seemed to suggest that dry firing was relatively o.k. But, I would avoid doing this. It is hard on the spring(s) and buffer.
ETA: Although it will shoot just about any .177 pellet well, it is designed for about 8 grain wadcutter pellets. These are the target pellets. H&N Match Rifle, are the ones my rifle seems to like. Though for something to get easily and at Walmart, the Crossman Premier 7.9 grain, or even the Hollow Points generally shoot quite well.