Kohler 12RESL, Operation Manual, Page: 6 / 48

TP-6517 1/11 6 Safety Precautions and Instructions
Battery gases. Explosion can cause
severe injury or death.
Battery gases
can cause an explosion. Do not smoke
or permit flames or sparks to occur
near a battery at any time, particularly
when it is charging. Do not dispose of a
battery in a fire. To prevent burns and
sparks that could cause an explosion,
avoid touching the battery terminals
with tools or other metal objects.
Remove all jewelry before servicing
the equipment.
Discharge static
electricity from your body before
touching batteries by first touching a
grounded metal surface away from the
battery. To avoid sparks, do not disturb
the battery charger connections while
the battery is charging. Always turn the
battery
charger off before
disconnecting the battery connections.
Ventilate the compartments containing
batteries to prevent accumulation of
explosive gases.
Battery short circuits. Explosion
can cause severe injury or death.
Short circuits can cause bodily injury
and/or
equipment damage.
Disconnect the battery before
generator set installation or
maintenance. Remove all jewelry
before servicing the equipment. Use
tools with insulated handles. Remove
the negative (--) lead first when
disconnecting the battery. Reconnect
the negative (--) lead last when
reconnecting
the battery. Never
connect the negative (--) battery cable
to the positive (+) connection terminal
of the starter solenoid. Do not test the
battery
condition by shorting the
terminals together.
Engine Backfire/Flash
Fire
Fire.
Can cause severe injury or death.
Do not smoke or permit flames or
sparks near fuels or the fuel system.
WARNING
Servicing the air cleaner. A sudden
backfire can cause severe injury or
death.
Do not operate the generator
set with the air cleaner removed.
Servicing the fuel system. A flash
fire can cause severe injury or
death.
Do not smoke or permit flames
or sparks near the carburetor, fuel line,
fuel filter, fuel pump, or other potential
sources of spilled fuels or fuel vapors.
Catch fuels in an approved container
when
removing the fuel line or
carburetor.
Combustible materials. A fire can
cause
severe injury or death.
Generator set engine fuels and fuel
vapors are flammable and explosive.
Handle these materials carefully to
minimize the risk of fire or explosion.
Equip the compartment or nearby area
with a fully charged fire extinguisher.
Select a fire extinguisher rated ABC or
BC
for electrical fires or as
recommended by the local fire code or
an authorized agency.
Train all
personnel on fire extinguisher
operation and fire prevention
procedures.
Exhaust System
Carbon monoxide.
Can
cause severe nausea,
fainting, or death.
The exhaust system must be
leakproof and routinely inspected.
WARNING
Generator set operation. Carbon
monoxide can cause severe
nausea, fainting, or death. Carbon
monoxide is an odorless, colorless,
tasteless, nonirritating gas that can
cause death if inhaled for even a short
time. Avoid breathing exhaust fumes
when working on or near the generator
set. Never operate the generator set
inside a building. Never operate the
generator set where exhaust gas could
seep inside or be drawn into a
potentially occupied building through
windows, air intake vents, or other
openings.
Carbon monoxide symptoms.
Carbon monoxide can cause severe
nausea, fainting, or death.
Carbon
monoxide is a poisonous gas present
in exhaust gases. Carbon monoxide is
an
odorless, colorless, tasteless,
nonirritating gas that can cause death if
inhaled for even a short time. Carbon
monoxide
poisoning symptoms
include but are not limited to the
following:
D
Light-headedness, dizziness
D
Physical fatigue, weakness in
joints and muscles
D
Sleepiness, mental fatigue,
inability to concentrate
or speak clearly, blurred vision
D
Stomachache, vomiting, nausea
If experiencing any of these symptoms
and carbon monoxide poisoning is
possible, seek fresh air immediately
and remain active. Do not sit, lie down,
or fall asleep.
Alert others to the
possibility of carbon monoxide
poisoning. Seek medical attention if
the condition of affected persons does
not improve within minutes of breathing
fresh air.
Fuel System
Explosive fuel vapors.
Can cause severe injury or death.
Use extreme care when handling,
storing, and using fuels.
WARNING