Safety; Safe Operating Practices - Toro 74625 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 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
the operator. 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, stop engine, and remove key
before dismounting.
•
Turn off blades when not mowing. Stop 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.
•
Always wear eye protection when operating the mower.
•
Data indicates that operators, age 60 years and above, are
involved in a large percentage of riding mower-related
injuries. Operators should evaluate their ability to operate
the riding mower safely enough to protect themselves and
others from serious injury.
•
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 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.
•
Avoid sudden starts when mowing uphill because the
mower may tip backwards.
•
Be aware that loss of traction may occur going downhill.
Weight transfer to the front wheels may cause drive
wheels to slip and cause loss of braking and steering.
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