Volvo Penta 31 Series Workshop Manual page 5

Avoid skin contact with oil. Long-term or repeat-
ed contact with oil can remove the natural oils
from your skin. The result can be irritation, dry
skin, eczema and other skin problems.
Used oil is more dangerous to health than new
oil. Use protective gloves and avoid using oil-
soaked clothes and rags. Wash regularly, espe-
cially before meals. Use the correct barrier
cream to prevent dry skin and to make cleaning
your skin easier.
Most chemicals used in products (engine and
transmission oils, glycol, petrol and diesel oil)
and workshop chemicals (solvents and paints)
are hazardous to health Read the instructions
on the product packaging carefully! Always fol-
low safety instructions (using breathing appara-
tus, protective goggles and gloves for exam-
ple). Ensure that other personnel are not
unwittingly exposed to hazardous substances
(by breathing them in for example). Ensure that
ventilation is good. Handle used and excess
chemicals according to instructions.
Be extremely careful when tracing leaks in the
fuel system and testing fuel injection nozzles.
Use protective goggles! The jet ejected from a
fuel injection nozzle is under very high pres-
sure, it can penetrate body tissue and cause
serious injury There is a danger of blood poison-
ing.
All fuels and many chemicals are inflammable.
Ensure that a naked flame or sparks cannot ig-
nite fuel or chemicals. Combined with air in cer-
tain ratios, petrol, some solvents and hydrogen
from batteries are easily inflammable and explo-
sive. Smoking is prohibited! Ensure that ventila-
tion is good and that the necessary safety pre-
cautions have been taken before carrying out
welding or grinding work. Always have a fire ex-
tinguisher to hand in the workplace.
Store oil and fuel-soaked rags and fuel and oil
filters safely. In certain conditions oil-soaked
rags can spontaneously ignite. Used fuel and oil
filters are environmentally dangerous waste and
must be deposited at an approved site for de-
struction together with used lubricating oil, con-
taminated fuel, paint remnants, solvent, de-
greasing agents and waste from washing parts.
Never allow a naked flame or electric sparks
near the batteries. Never smoke in proximity to
the batteries. The batteries give off hydrogen
gas during charging which when mixed with air
can form an explosive gas - oxyhydrogen. This
gas is easily ignited and highly volatile. Incor-
rect connection of the battery can cause a
spark which is sufficient to cause an explosion
with resulting damage. Do not disturb battery
connections when starting the engine (spark
risk) and do not lean over batteries.
Never mix up the positive and negative battery
terminals when installing. Incorrect installation
can result in serious damage to electrical equip-
ment. Refer to wiring diagrams.
Always use protective goggles when charging
and handling batteries. The battery electrolyte
contains extremely corrosive sulfuric acid. If
this comes into contact with the skin, wash im-
mediately with soap and plenty of water. If bat-
tery acid comes into contact with the eyes, im-
mediately flush with copious amounts of water
and obtain medical assistance.
Turn off the engine and turn off power at main
switch(es) before carrying out work on the elec-
trical system.
The clutch must be adjusted with the engine
shut off.
Use the lifting eyes mounted on the engine/re-
verse gear when lifting the drive unit.
Always check that lifting equipment is in good
condition and has sufficient load capacity to lift
the engine (engine weight including reverse gear
and any extra equipment installed).
To ensure safe handling and to avoid damaging
engine components on top of the engine, use a
lifting beam to raise the engine. All chains and
cables should run parallel to each other and as
perpendicular as possible in relation to the top
of the engine.
If extra equipment is installed on the engine al-
tering its center of gravity, a special lifting de-
vice is required to achieve the correct balance
for safe handling.
Never carry out work on an engine suspended
on a hoist.
Safety Precautions
3