Lance
Fluegel and Bradley
Rein
Arizona Cooperative Extension
- Read
the operator's manual carefully to learn the characteristics
of the machine.
- Depending
upon the job, you should wear some or all of the following
safety equipment: sturdy pants and shirt, hard hat, safety
glasses or goggles, hearing protection, safety shoes, gloves,
and respirator.
- The
loader should be equipped with seatbelts, rollover protective
structure (ROPS), side screens, starter interlock switches,
backup alarm system, and warning lights for maximum safety.
- Fill
the engine with fuel when engine is shut off and still cool.
Do not smoke. Wipe up any spills immediately.
- Check
the machine daily for broken, loose, or damaged parts.
- Check
to see that counterweights as recommended by the manufacturer
are in place. NOTE: This is very important as improperly
balanced skid-steer loaders are easily upset.
- Clean
steps, pedals, and floor of any slippery substances.
- Clear
the driving compartment of loose items that might interfere
with the controls.
- Check
the work area for hazards such as holes, soft spots, and
obstructions. Check overhead for utility lines, doorway
clearances, or other obstructions.
- Mount
the machine wearing clean, dry shoes using the grab bars
or handrails provided.
- Adjust
the seat, fasten the seat belt, set the brake, and place
transmission in park or neutral before cranking the engine.
- Visually
check for the presence of others in the area and warn them
away. Be especially alert for children.
- If
the machine is garaged leave the door or some windows open
for ventilating the exhaust. CARBON MONOXIDE KILLS!
- Start
the engine and check all controls to see that they are functioning
properly.
- Check
horn and backup alarm to see that they are working.
- Operate
with caution on uneven surfaces. Avoid steep slopes completely.
- Carry
the load as low as possible. Avoid sharp turns and slopes
with a raised load.
- Keep
the back of the machine pointed uphill. BACK UP AND DRIVE
DOWN!
- Operate
with extreme caution near areas with sharp dropoffs.
- Do
not undercut banks or materials that are piled high, to
avoid falling rocks or cave-ins.
- Be
alert, when backfilling, for unstable soils that could collapse
under the weight of the machine.
- Never
leave the machine without first lowering the bucket, stopping
the engine, setting the parking brake, and placing the shift
in park or neutral.
- If
stopping for any length of time lock the ignition and remove
the key.
Disclaimer
and Reproduction Information: Information in NASD does not
represent NIOSH policy. Information included in NASD appears
by permission of the author and/or copyright holder. More
NASD Review: 04/2002
This
document is
8831-M
,
a series of the the Cooperative Extension, the University
of Arizona, Tucson, Az 85719. Publication date: May 1989.
Lance
Fluegel, Safety Coordinator, and Bradley Rein, Engineering
Specialist, the College of Agriculture, the University of
Arizona, Tucson AZ 85719.
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