SlopeSafety
•Operatethemachineupanddownslopeswith
theheavyendofthemachineuphill.Weight
distributionchangeswithattachments.Anempty
load-bearingattachmentmakestherearofthe
machinetheheavyend,andafullload-bearing
attachmentmakesthefrontofthemachinethe
heavyend.Mostotherattachmentsmakethefront
ofmachinetheheavyend.
•Keeptheattachmentintheloweredposition
withtheloaderarmsretractedwhenonslopes.
Raisingtheattachmentorextendingtheloader
armsonaslopeaffectsthestabilityofthemachine.
•Slopesareamajorfactorrelatedtolossofcontrol
andtip-overaccidents,whichcanresultinsevere
injuryordeath.Operatingthemachineonany
slopeoruneventerrainrequiresextracaution.
•Establishyourownproceduresandrulesfor
operatingonslopes.Theseproceduresmust
includesurveyingthesitetodeterminewhich
slopesaresafeformachineoperation.Always
usecommonsenseandgoodjudgmentwhen
performingthissurvey.
•Slowdownanduseextracareonhillsides.Ground
conditionscanaffectthestabilityofthemachine.
•Avoidstartingorstoppingonaslope.Ifthe
machinelosestraction,proceedslowly,straight
downtheslope.
•Avoidturningonslopes.Ifyoumustturn,turn
slowlyandkeeptheheavyendofthemachine
uphill.
•Keepallmovementsonslopesslowandgradual.
Donotmakesuddenchangesinspeedor
direction.
•Ifyoufeeluneasyoperatingthemachineona
slope,donotdoit.
•Watchforholes,ruts,orbumps,asuneventerrain
couldoverturnthemachine.T allgrasscanhide
obstacles.
•Usecautionwhenoperatingonwetsurfaces.
Reducedtractioncouldcausesliding.
•Evaluatetheareatoensurethatthegroundis
stableenoughtosupportthemachine.
•Usecautionwhenoperatingthemachinenearthe
following:
–Drop-offs
–Ditches
–Embankments
–Bodiesofwater
Themachinecouldsuddenlyrolloverifatrack
ortiregoesovertheedgeortheedgecavesin.
Maintainasafedistancebetweenthemachine
andanyhazard.
•Donotremoveoraddattachmentsonaslope.
•Donotparkthemachineonahillsideorslope.
ForksSafety
•Alwayslowertheattachmentandshutoffthe
machineeachtimeyouleavetheoperating
position.
•Cleananydirtordebristhatmayhinderconnecting
theattachmenttothemachine.Ensurethatthe
attachment-lockingpinsarefullyseatedinthe
holesoftheattachment-mountplate.Refertothe
Operator’sManualforthemachinefordetailed
informationonsafelyconnectinganattachmentto
yourmachine.
•Whenliftingtheattachmentkeepitleveland
preventtheloadfromspillingbackward.
•Inspecttheforksfordamageaftereachuse.
MaintenanceandStorage
Safety
•Checkfastenersatfrequentintervalsforproper
tightnesstoensurethattheequipmentisinsafe
operatingcondition.
•RefertotheOperator’sManualforimportant
detailsifyoustoretheattachmentforanextended
periodoftime
•Maintainorreplacesafetyandinstructionlabels,
asnecessary.
4
