DR Power Hydraulic 20-Ton - Manual (Page 9)

DR  20-Ton WOOD SPLITTER Safety & Operating Instructions 5
Protecting Yourself
Always wear protective goggles while splitting wood to protect your eyes from possible
thrown bits of wood.
Wear shoes with non-slip treads when using your DR 20-Ton WOOD SPLITTER. If
you have safety shoes, we recommend wearing them. Do not use the machine while
barefoot or wearing open sandals.
Wear long pants while splitting wood.
Avoid wearing loose clothing or jewelry, which might be caught on the splitter’s
moving parts.
Use hearing protection or earplugs to protect your hearing.
We recommend wearing snug-fitting work gloves while splitting wood.
Operating the Machine Safely
To be safe, do not operate the machine near children or pets, and never allow children
to operate the splitter.
Keep your hands and feet clear of the splitting area while the push block is in motion.
ALWAYS shut off the engine and remove the spark plug wire before adjusting the
machine. If you have to stop to remove any debris from the machine, ALWAYS retract
the ram and disconnect the spark plug wire first.
The exhaust area on the engine becomes very hot with use. Allow the engine to cool
before doing maintenance or making adjustments.
Keep combustible substances away from the engine when it is hot.
Use the machine only in daylight or good artificial light.
Do not use in wet or slippery conditions.
ALWAYS OPERATE THE SPLITTER FROM THE OPERATOR ZONE. (Figure
19) Never straddle or climb over the wood splitter at any time.
Use only your hands to operate the splitter controls.
Do not place your hands at pinch points where they can get caught between a log and
the wedge, push block, or log cradle.
Do not put any part of yourself, your clothing, or your personal protective equipment
into a crack in a log that is being split; it might close suddenly with great force.
WARNING! The items listed in this section will help you keep your
DR 20-Ton WOOD SPLITTER running smoothly and, most importantly,
prevent injury to yourself or others. Please review them carefully before
starting your machine.