DuringOperation
DuringOperationSafety
GeneralSafety
•Theowner/operatorcanpreventandisresponsible
foraccidentsthatmaycausepersonalinjuryor
propertydamage.
•Wearappropriateclothing,includingeye
protection;longpants;substantial,slip-resistant
footwear;andhearingprotection.Tiebacklong
hairanddonotlooseclothingorloosejewelry.
•Donotoperatethemachinewhileill,tired,or
undertheinuenceofalcoholordrugs.
•Useyourfullattentionwhileoperatingthe
machine.Donotengageinanyactivitythat
causesdistractions;otherwise,injuryorproperty
damagemayoccur.
•Dischargedairhasconsiderableforceandcould
causeinjuryorlossoffooting.Stayawayfromthe
blowernozzlewhenthemachineisoperating.
•Keepallbystandersaway;shutoffthemachine
whenbystandersenterthearea,donotdirect
dischargetowardthem.
•Donotoperatethemachinewhenitisnot
connectedtoatowingvehicle.
•Donotruntheengineinordirecttheblowernozzle
intoaconnedareawithoutadequateventilation.
Engineexhaustcontainscarbonmonoxide,an
odorlessgasthatisfatalifinhaled.
•Donotcarrypassengersonthemachineand
keepbystandersandpetsawayfromthemachine
duringoperation.
•Operatethemachineonlyingoodvisibilitytoavoid
holesorhiddenhazards.
•Lookbehindanddownbeforebackinguptobe
sureofaclearpath.
•Usecarewhenapproachingblindcorners,shrubs,
trees,orotherobjectsthatmayobscureyour
vision.
•Neverrunanengineinanareawhereexhaust
gassesareenclosed.
•Neverleavearunningmachineunattended.
•Beforeyouleavetheoperator’sposition,dothe
following:
–Parkthemachineonalevelsurface.
–Engagethetowvehicleparkingbrake.
–Shutofftheengineandremovethekey(if
equipped).
–Waitforallmovementtostop.
•Whentransportingthemachineonpublicroads,
followalltrafcregulationsanduseanyadditional
accessoriesthatmayberequiredbylaw,suchas
lights,turnsignals,slow-movingvehicle(SMV)
signs,andothersasrequired.
•Ifthemachineevervibratesabnormally,stopthe
machineimmediately,shutofftheengine,remove
thekey,waitforallmovingpartstostop,and
inspectfordamage.Repairalldamagetothe
machinebeforeresumingoperation.
•Reducespeedwhenoperatingonrough,uneven
terrain,andnearcurbs,holes,andothersudden
changesinterrain.
•Toavoidcausingthemachinetotipover,be
carefulwhenturningandavoidunsafemaneuvers.
SlopeSafety
•Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedtolossofcontrol
androlloveraccidents,whichcanresultinsevere
injuryordeath.Youareresponsibleforsafeslope
operation.Operatingthemachineonanyslope
requiresextracaution.
•Reviewthetractionunitspecicationstoensure
thatyoudonotexceeditsslopecapabilities.
•Evaluatethesiteconditionstodetermineifthe
slopeissafeformachineoperation,including
surveyingthesite.Alwaysusecommonsense
andgoodjudgmentwhenperformingthissurvey.
•Reviewtheslopeinstructions,listedbelow,for
operatingthemachineonslopes.Beforeyou
operatethemachine,reviewthesiteconditionsto
determinewhetheryoucanoperatethemachine
intheconditionsonthatdayandatthatsite.
Changesintheterraincanresultinachangein
slopeoperationforthemachine.
–Avoidstarting,stopping,orturningthemachine
onslopes.Avoidmakingsuddenchangesin
speedordirection.Maketurnsslowlyand
gradually.
–Donotoperateamachineunderanyconditions
wheretraction,steering,orstabilityisin
question.
–Removeormarkobstructionssuchasditches,
holes,ruts,bumps,rocks,orotherhidden
hazards.T allgrasscanhideobstructions.
Uneventerraincouldoverturnthemachine.
–Beawarethatoperatingthemachineonwet
grass,acrossslopes,ordownhillmaycause
themachinetolosetraction.
–Useextremecautionwhenoperating
themachineneardrop-offs,ditches,
embankments,waterhazards,orother
hazards.Themachinecouldsuddenlyrollover
ifawheelgoesovertheedgeortheedge
cavesin.Establishasafetyareabetweenthe
machineandanyhazard.
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