7. PRECAUTIONS DURING OPERATION ¤ WARNING: For reasons of safety, always follow these safety precautions. 7.1 BEFORE STARTING ENGINE 1-8 SAFETY AT WORKSITE ‡ Before starting operations, thoroughly check the area for any unusual conditions that could be dangerous. ‡ Check the terrain and condition of the ground at the worksite, and determine the best and safest method of operation. ‡ Make the ground surface as hard and horizontal as possible before carrying out operations. If the jobsite is dusty, spray water before starting operations.
‡ If you need to operate on a road, protect pedestrians and cars by designating a person for worksite traffic duty or by installing fences and putting up No Entry signs around the worksite. ‡ If water lines, gas lines, or high-voltage electrical lines may be buried under the worksite, contact each utility and identify their locations. Be careful not to sever or damage any of these lines. ‡ Check the ground condition and the depth and flow of water before operating in water or crossing a river. NEVER be in water which is in excess of the permissible water depth. Permissible water depth © See “12.9 PRECAUTIONS FOR OPERATION”.
CHECKS BEFORE STARTING ENGINE Carry out the following checks before starting the engine at the beginning of the days work. Failure to carry out these checks may lead to serious injury or damage. ‡ Completely remove all flammable materials accumulated around the engine and battery, return all fuel containers to their proper place, remove all parts and tools from the operator’s compart- ment, and remove any dirt from the mirrors, handrails, and steps. Walk-around checks © See “12.1.1 WALK-AROUND CHECK”. ‡ Check the coolant level, fuel level, and oil level in the hydraulic tank, check for clogging of the air cleaner, and check the electric wiring.
Checks before starting © See “12.1.2 CHECK BEFORE STARTING”. ‡ Adjust the operator’s seat to a position where it is easy to carry out operations, and check for wear or damage to the seat belt and seat belt mounting equipment. Adjusting operator’s seat © See “12.1.3 ADJUSTMENT BEFORE STARTING OPERATION”. Seat belt © See “27. USING SEAT BELT”. ‡ Check that the gauges work properly, and check that the control levers are all at the NEUTRAL position. Method of checking operation of gauges © See “12.1.5 OPERATIONS AND CHECKS BEFORE STARTING ENGINE”. ‡ Check that the mirrors and window glass provide a clear view. If the above inspections show any abnormality, carry out repairs immediately. A0055020