Safety; Safe Operating Practices - Toro 74741 Operator's Manual

Safety

To reduce the potential for injury, comply with these
safety instructions and always pay attention to the
safety-alert symbol, which means Caution, Warning,
or Danger—"personal safety instruction." Failure to
comply with the instruction may result in personal
injury or death.

Safe Operating Practices

This product is capable of amputating hands and
feet and throwing objects. Always follow all safety
instructions to avoid serious injury or death.
The following instructions are adapted from ANSI
standard B71.1-2012. All the language within this
ANSI standard applies to this machine; however,
due to the application of the standard across many
different types of products some statements can
seem general or misleading. In these instances, Toro
has refined the statement to convey the meaning of
the standard while better matching the product this
Operator's Manual pertains. Safety information in
addition to the instructions found in the ANSI standard
below can be found in Toro Riding Mower Safety at
the end of this section.
General Operation
•
Read, understand, and follow all instructions in
the Operator's Manual and on the machine before
starting.
•
Do not place your hands or feet near rotating parts
or under the machine. Keep clear of the discharge
opening at all times.
•
Allow only responsible adults who are familiar with
the instructions to operate the machine.
•
Clear the area of objects such as rocks, toys, wire,
etc., which could be picked up and thrown by the
blade.
•
Be sure the area is clear of other people before
mowing. Stop the machine if anyone enters the
area.
•
Never carry passengers.
•
Do not mow in reverse unless absolutely
necessary. Always look down and behind before
and while backing up.
•
Be aware of the mower discharge direction and do
not point it at anyone. Avoid discharging material
against a wall or obstruction. Material may ricochet
back toward you. Stop the blade(s) when crossing
gravel surfaces.
•
Do not operate the machine without deflector,
discharge cover, or entire grass collection system
in place and working.
•
Be alert, slow down and use caution when making
turns. Look behind and to the side before changing
directions.
•
Never leave a running machine unattended.
Always turn off blades, set parking brake, shut off
engine, and remove the key before dismounting
the machine.
•
Turn off the blades when not mowing. Shut
off the engine, wait for all parts to come to
a complete stop, and remove the key before
cleaning the machine, removing the grass catcher,
or unclogging the discharge chute.
•
Operate the machine only in daylight or good
artificial light.
•
Do not operate the machine while under the
influence of alcohol or drugs.
•
Watch for traffic when operating near or crossing
roadways.
•
Use extra care when loading or unloading the
machine into a trailer or truck.
•
Wear appropriate clothing including eye protection
and substantial, slip-resistant shoes. Tie back long
hair. Do not wear jewelry.
•
Always follow the recommendations for any
application of counterweights.
•
Lightning can cause severe injury or death. If
lightning is seen or thunder is heard in the area, do
not operate the machine; seek shelter.
Slope Operation
Slopes are a major factor related to loss of control and
tip-over accidents, which can result in severe injury or
death. Operation on all slopes requires extra caution.
If you cannot back up the slope or if you feel uneasy
on it, do not mow it.
•
Do not mow slopes greater than 15 degrees.
•
Watch for ditches, holes, rocks, dips, and rises
that change the operating angle, as rough terrain
could overturn the machine.
•
Choose a low ground speed so that you will not
have to stop while operating on a slope.
•
Do not mow slopes when grass is wet. Slippery
conditions reduce traction and could cause sliding
and loss of control.
•
Always keep the drive wheels engaged when
going down slopes.
•
Reduce speed and use extreme caution on slopes.
•
Do not make sudden turns or rapid speed changes.
•
Remove or mark obstacles such as rocks, tree
limbs, etc. from the mowing area. Tall grass can
hide obstacles.
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