Safety Advice And Maintenance - Minelab MDS-10 Operation Manual

Safety Advice and Maintenance

The MDS‑10 is safe to transport, store and operate when handled with the
due care. Safety hazards applicable to this equipment are identified below.
Hazard Precaution
The GPR and MD Sensors in the Sensor Head emit very low power magnetic fields and
Radio Frequency (RF) energy. The radiated energy from both Sensors is significantly
Emission of non‑
lower than that emitted by a mobile telephone and is safe to human health.
ionising radiation.
Operators do not need to follow any specific safety precautions to mitigate hazards to
human health posed by the emission of non‑ionising radiation from the equipment.
Electromagnetic While interference with communications equipment is unlikely, consideration should
interference be given to potential effects on other equipment in proximity.
Voltages potentially capable of causing electric shock are present on some internal
conductors in both the GPR and MD Sensors.
Inspect the MDS‑10 shafts, Sensor Head enclosure, Control Box enclosure, and Battery
Internal voltages
for evidence of damaged or exposed cables or electrical conductors prior to use. Do
not use the equipment if there is any evidence of damaged or exposed cables or
electrical conductors.
Exposure to excessively high audio volumes with any audio generating equipment
can cause discomfort and possible temporary and permanent hearing loss. The
maximum output volume via the earset and speaker for the detector are limited to be
Speaker/earset
within safe levels for peak sound pressure level exposure. Operators should also use
audio volume
the Volume control to ensure the audio volume is not set above comfortable levels.
Ensure the Volume control is not set above comfortable levels during operation.
The MDS‑10 should not be powered On while being transported by air, and all
applicable safety regulations must be followed in relation to carriage of electronic
Air transport safety
equipment, including lithium‑ion batteries on aircraft.
requirements
Follow all applicable safety regulations including the directions from aircrew when
transporting MDS‑10 equipment by air.
The MDS‑10 is a lightweight Dual Sensor detector, designed to minimise the risk
Ergonomic hazards of fatigue, strain, or other musculoskeletal injury to Operators. Operators using the
equipment should always observe correct detecting posture and technique.
Inspect the detector shafts prior to use. Do not allow damaged or abraded carbon
fibre shaft sections to come into contact with skin.
Exposed fibres from
damaged carbon
The MDS‑10 middle and upper shafts are made from carbon fibre material. Damaged
fibre shafts
or abraded carbon fibre materials can expose fibres which can cause cuts and
abrasions to skin, and ingress under the skin with potentially toxic effects.
The MDS‑10 has been designed to avoid the presence of pinch‑points, but is
a compact, collapsible piece of equipment that requires moderate care when
Pinch‑points extending or collapsing. Keep fingers clear of sliding and rotating mechanisms
including shaft camlocks, and around the base of the folding handle in the vicinity of
the earset connector, when extending or collapsing the detector.
62 | Troubleshooting, Safety, and Maintenance