DR Power Backhoe 2008 User Manual

Page 13

Hydraulic Safety

Safety When Digging Near Utilities

HIGH FLUID PRESSURES ARE DEVELOPED IN HYDRAULIC MACHINES. PRESSURIZED HYDRAULIC
FLUID ESCAPING THROUGH A PIN HOLE OPENING CAN PUNCTURE SKIN AND CAUSE SEVERE
BLOOD POISONING. THEREFORE, THE FOLLOWING INSTRUCTIONS SHOULD BE HEEDED AT ALL
TIMES.

• DO NOT OPERATE THE UNIT WITH FRAYED, KINKED, CRACKED OR DAMAGED HOSES, FITTINGS,

OR TUBING. STOP THE ENGINE, WAIT 5 MINUTES AND RELIEVE HYDRAULIC SYSTEM PRESSURE
BEFORE CHANGING OR ADJUSTING FITTINGS, HOSES, TUBING, OR OTHER SYSTEM
COMPONENTS.

• DO NOT CHANGE ANY BACKHOE NEEDLE VALVE SETTINGS. THEY ARE SET AT THE FACTORY

FOR BEST BACKHOE PERFORMANCE AND SAFETY.

• DO NOT CHECK FOR LEAKS WITH YOUR HAND. LEAKS CAN BE LOCATED BY PASSING

CARDBOARD OR WOOD OVER THE SUSPECTED AREA: LOOK FOR DISCOLORATION. IF INJURED
BY ESCAPING FLUID, SEE A DOCTOR AT ONCE. SERIOUS INFECTION OR REACTION CAN
DEVELOP IF PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT IS NOT ADMINISTERED IMMEDIATELY.

• ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES TO PROTECT YOUR EYES FROM HYDRAULIC FLUID.

CALL 811 BEFORE YOU BEGIN ANY DIGGING PROJECT. A NEW, FEDERALLY-MANDATED NATIONAL
"CALL BEFORE YOU DIG" NUMBER, 811 WAS CREATED TO HELP PROTECT YOU FROM
UNINTENTIONALLY HITTING UNDERGROUND UTILITIES WHILE WORKING ON DIGGING PROJECTS.
EVERY DIGGING JOB REQUIRES A CALL. IF YOU HIT AN UNDERGROUND UTILITY LINE WHILE
DIGGING, YOU CAN HARM YOURSELF OR THOSE AROUND YOU, DISRUPT SERVICE AND
POTENTIALLY BE RESPONSIBLE FOR FINES AND REPAIR COSTS.

• THERE MAY BE BURIED POWER, GAS, AND/OR TELEPHONE LINES IN THE WORK AREA. ELECTRIC

SHOCK, DEATH, OR EXPLOSION MAY OCCUR.

• HAVE THE PROPERTY OR WORK AREA MARKED FOR BURIED LINES AND DO NOT DIG IN

MARKED AREAS.

• THERE MAY ALSO BE OVERHEAD POWER LINES IN THE WORK AREA. ELECTRIC SHOCK OR

DEATH MAY OCCUR IF A POWER LINE IS TOUCHED BY THE BACKHOE.

• SURVEY AND MARK THE AREA WHERE THERE ARE OVERHEAD POWER LINES AND DIG WITH

CAUTION UNDER POWER LINES TO ENSURE THAT YOU DO NOT TOUCH THEM WITH THE
BACKHOE.