Safety
DANGER
There may be buried utility lines in the work
area. Digging into them may cause a shock
or an explosion.
Have the property or work area marked for
buried lines and do not dig in marked areas.
Contact your local marking service or utility
company to have the property marked (for
example, in the US, call 811 or in Australia,
call 1100 for the nationwide marking service).
General Safety
Always follow all safety instructions to avoid serious
injury or death.
•
Do not transport an attachment with the arms
raised
. Always transport the attachment close to
the ground; refer to
Transport Position (page 7)
.
•
Have the property or work area marked for buried
lines and other objects, and do not dig in marked
areas.
•
Read and understand the content of this
Operator’s
Manual
before starting the engine.
•
Use your full attention while operating the
machine. Do not engage in any activity that
causes distractions; otherwise, injury or property
damage may occur.
•
Never allow children or untrained people to
operate the machine.
•
Keep your hands and feet away from the moving
components and attachments.
•
Do not operate the machine without the guards
and other safety protective devices in place and
working on the machine.
•
Keep bystanders and pets away from the machine.
•
Stop the machine, shut off the engine, and remove
the key before servicing, fueling, or unclogging
the machine.
Improperly using or maintaining this machine can
result in injury. To reduce the potential for injury,
comply with these safety instructions and always
pay attention to the safety-alert symbol
, which
means Caution, Warning, or Danger—personal safety
instruction. Failure to comply with these instructions
may result in personal injury or death.
Slope Safety
•
Operate the machine up and down slopes with
the heavy end of the machine uphill.
Weight
distribution changes with attachments. An empty
load-bearing attachment makes the rear of the
machine the heavy end, and a full load-bearing
attachment makes the front of the machine the
heavy end. Most other attachments make the front
of machine the heavy end.
•
Keep the attachment in the lowered position
when on slopes.
Raising the attachment on a
slope affects the stability of the machine.
•
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control
and tip-over accidents, which can result in severe
injury or death. Operating the machine on any
slope or uneven terrain requires extra caution.
•
Establish your own procedures and rules for
operating on slopes. These procedures must
include surveying the site to determine which
slopes are safe for machine operation. Always
use common sense and good judgment when
performing this survey.
•
Slow down and use extra care on hillsides. Ground
conditions can affect the stability of the machine.
•
Avoid starting or stopping on a slope. If the
machine loses traction, proceed slowly, straight
down the slope.
•
Avoid turning on slopes. If you must turn, turn
slowly and keep the heavy end of the machine
uphill.
•
Keep all movements on slopes slow and gradual.
Do not make sudden changes in speed or
direction.
•
If you feel uneasy operating the machine on a
slope, do not do it.
•
Watch for holes, ruts, or bumps, as uneven terrain
could overturn the machine. Tall grass can hide
obstacles.
•
Use caution when operating on wet surfaces.
Reduced traction could cause sliding.
•
Evaluate the area to ensure that the ground is
stable enough to support the machine.
•
Use caution when operating the machine near the
following:
– Drop-offs
– Ditches
– Embankments
– Bodies of water
The machine could suddenly roll over if a track
goes over the edge or the edge caves in. Maintain
a safe distance between the machine and any
hazard.
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