2 - SAFETY INFORMATION
compatible with its specific functions (such as pushing railway cars, trucks or other machines). Always pay attention to the people near the machine operating area. Never move or stop the bucket, other loads or the attachment above people or the truck cab. Ensure the truck driver is in a safe place before loading the truck. Load the truck from the side or the rear, never over the cab of the truck. Use only the type of bucket recommended considering the machine type, materials to be moved, material piling up and loading characteristics, ground type and other conditions typical of the work to be performed. When transporting the loaded bucket, keep it as retracted as possible. Keep the boom and arm as low as possible. The travel speed should be adequate to the load and ground conditions. The load must always be properly distributed in the bucket; move with extreme care when transporting oversize loads. Do not lift or move the bucket above where there are people working. On sloped terrain, do not carry the bucket with the machine facing uphill, since this would decrease machine stability. Always load the bucket from the downhill side. Loads to be hoisted using the machine should be attached to the appropriate specially provided cradle. The excavator is not travel or lifting equipment; therefore, it should not be used to position loads accurately. If it is used to lift and carry building components, you must take the following precautions: • The machine must be equipped with the hoisting hook supplied by order. • Make sure the loads to be raised using cables or chains are secured with appropriate fastening elements. • Nobody should be authorized to remain under the raised load or within the excavator operating area for any reason whatsoever. Never exceed specified load capacity. Incorrect fastening of slings or chains may cause failure in the boom, arm or failure of the lifting equipment, causing bodily injuries or death. Always ensure that slings and chains used for lifting are adequate to the load and in good condition. All loading capacity specifications are for the machine working on a level surface and should be disregarded when working on sloped terrain. Avoid driving the machine along inclined surfaces. Proceed from uphill to downhill and vice-versa, in the direction of the slope. If machine starts slipping sideways, lower the bucket and thrust the bucket teeth into the ground, to stop the movement. Working on a sloped area is dangerous. If possible, level the area before starting work. Reduce the work speed if it is not possible to level the work area. In a sloped area, avoid turning the upper structure upside down, since this movement can unbalance the machine. In a sloped area, do not work with the bucket facing uphill, since counterweights facing downhill reduce the ma-
chine's stability and increase the risk of roll over. In such cases, we recommend working with the bucket facing downhill, after checking the machine's stability, turning the upper structure by 360 ° (one full turn) with the bucket empty and the arm retracted. Position the chassis perpendicular to the slope of the terrain to move through the work area more safely. Keep the machine sufficiently far from the edges of a ditch. Never dig under the machine. Should it be necessary to dig under the machine, verify that digging walls are appropriately propped up against landslide to prevent the machine from falling into the excavation area. Do not swing the upper structure, raise the load or brake abruptly if not required. This may cause accidents. Prior to beginning the work near gas distribution mains, telephone lines or other public utilities: • Contact the company that owns the service or its nearest branch before starting the work. • Define, in conjunction with the company, what precautions must be taken to ensure work safety. • Decrease work speed. Reaction time could be too slow and the evaluation of the distance wrong. • Appoint a person in charge of signalling duties. This person will be responsible for observing the machine, any part of it and the load near the distribution grids from a more favorable viewing angle than that of the operator. This person, the signal man, must be in direct communication with the operator and the operator must pay undivided attention to the signals given. • The dealer company, if previously advised and involved in the work, as well as the operator, the machine owner, the physical or legal entity that rented or leased the machine or that is responsible at the time by contract or by law, are liable for the adoption of the necessary actions and precautions. Working near electric lines bears a high risk and therefore should be performed under the condition of special precautions. This manual considers work in the vicinity of electrical lines those in which the attachment or load raised by the excavator could reach the minimum safety distance in relation to the electrical grid provided by the local safety codes. For safe operation in the vicinity of electrical lines, you must maintain the greatest possible distance without ever exceeding the minimum distance permissible. Make sure you know and meet local safety regulations on operation in the vicinity of electrical lines. Before starting an operation in the vicinity of electrical lines it is necessary to: • Contact the company that owns the electrical grid or its nearest branch before starting the work. • Define, in conjunction with the company, what precautions must be taken to ensure work safety.
2-3
