12
Safety
Operate Safely
Valley Irrigation machines are designed with safety in mind. However, if this machine is operated incorrectly, it
may pose a safety threat to the operator. A good safety program is much like a chain, it is only as strong as its
weakest link. The manufacturer, dealer, and operator must maintain and improve all safety programs. Following
is a list of safety operating tips which you and all other persons servicing or operating the machine must read
and understand:
!
CAUTION
• DO NOT OPERATE THIS MACHINE WITHOUT
FIRST READING THE OWNER’S MANUALS
FOR THE MACHINE.
• READ ALL SAFETY MESSAGES IN THIS
MANUAL AND SAFETY SIGNS ON THE MA-
CHINE.
• DO NOT LET ANYONE OPERATE THIS MA-
CHINE WITHOUT PROPER INSTRUCTIONS.
• UNAUTHORIZED MODIFICATIONS MAY IM-
PAIR THE FUNCTION AND/OR SAFETY OF
THE MACHINE.
• IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANY PART
OF THIS MANUAL, CONTACT YOUR VALLEY
DEALER.
EMPLOYEE INSTRUCTION ON SAFETY
It is very important to instruct your employees on the
safe use of this equipment at the time of their initial
assignment to operate it. DO NOT let anyone oper-
ate this equipment without proper instructions.
Safety training should be presented annually and
the service manager should ensure employees fully
understand the safety messages and what to do in
case of emergencies.
EMERGENCY STOPPING
The machine can be stopped at any time at any tower
by turning the disconnect switch, located underneath
the tower box, to the OFF position. Refer to Figure
12-1.
Figure 12-1 1. Disconnect Switch
1
!
WARNING
PROPER GROUNDING
DO NOT attempt to start the machine until the electri-
cal service is properly installed and grounded by a
qualified electrician as per the electrical standards.
Refer to Figure 12-2.
If the power supplied to the machine is not grounded
properly, severe injury, or death can result should an
electrical malfunction occur.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your power
supplier and/or electrical contractor has grounded
the irrigation machine as required by the National
Electrical Code and by applicable local electrical
codes. If a machine is properly grounded and fuse
sizing is correct, there is extremely low probability of
an individual being injured by electrical shock.
1
2
3
4
5
Figure 12-2 1. Ground Rod Installation
2. Service Conductor
3. Copper Ground Rod
4. Copper Ground Wire
5. Clamp
NOTE
• All 480 VAC, 60 Hz (380 VAC, 50 Hz) power
supply services MUST be a 4 conductor
service. Three 480 VAC (380 VAC) power lines
and one ground conductor which is as large
as the power carrying conductors for that
service.
• Each time a towable machine is moved,
the ground wire MUST be reattached to the
ground rod and checked for electrical integ-
rity before restarting the machine.
