¤ WARNING: For reasons of safety, always follow these safety precautions. 7. PRECAUTIONS DURING OPERATION 1-18 OPERATE CAREFULLY ON SNOW ‡ When working on snow or icy roads, even a slight slope may cause the machine to slip to the side, so always travel at low speed and avoid sudden starting, stopping, or turning. There is particular danger of the machine slipping to the side when traveling up or down hills. ‡ When the temperature rises, frozen road surfaces become soft, so the machine travel becomes unstable.
‡ When there has been heavy snow, the road shoulder and objects placed beside the road are buried in the snow and cannot be seen, so always carry out snow-clearing operations carefully. WORKING ON LOOSE GROUND ‡ Avoid entering soft ground. It will be difficult for the machine to escape. ‡ Avoid operating your machine too close to the edge of cliffs, overhangs, and deep ditches. The ground may be weak in such areas. If the ground should collapse, the machine could fall or tip over and this could result in serious injury or death. Remember that the soil after heavy rain or blasting or after earthquakes is weakened in these areas. ‡ Earth laid on the ground and the soil near ditches is loose.
It can collapse under the weight or vibration of your machine and cause your machine to tip over. ‡ Install the head guard (FOPS) if working in areas where there is danger of falling rocks. OPERATIONS ON SLOPES ‡ When working on slopes, there is danger that the machine CORRECT may lose its balance and turn over when the swing or work equipment are operated. Always carry out these operations carefully. ‡ Do not swing the work equipment from the uphill side to the downhill side when the bucket is loaded. This operation is dangerous. AN113040 ‡ If the machine has to be used on a slope, pile the soil to make a platform that will keep the machine as horizontal as possi- ble.
INCORRECT In addition, lower the bucket as far as possible, keep it pulled in to the front, and keep the swing speed as low as possible. Platform Piled soil on slope © See “12.13 PRECAUTIONS WHEN TRAVELING UP OR DOWN HILLS”. AN113050