Briggs & Stratton 1687302 Safety Rules, Service And Maintenance, Electrical System Safety

Safety Rules	General Information
SERVICE AND MAINTENANCE	Electrical System Safety
Personal Protective Equipment	• Loose connectors, worn wires, damaged wire insula-
• Wear protective safety glasses whenever using hand	tion, and loose termination hardware can cause
	sparks, short-circuits, and erratic equipment opera-
or power tools, shop equipment, and whenever work-	tion. Always check wiring for damage, and make
ing under power equipment to protect your eyes from	appropriate repairs before placing unit back into oper-
falling debris and small parts.	ation.
• Wear safety goggles or full face protection when han-	• Use care when working around exposed terminals to
dling battery electrolyte fluid, or when performing	prevent short-circuiting the electrical system.
grinding or sharpening operations that produce	Sparking, electric shocks, and damage to the system
sparks or flying debris. Extensive grinding may	may result from accidental contact between terminals
require the use of protective sleeves and an apron.	and metal hand tools.
• Wear work gloves when handling sharp surfaces	Elevating Unit Safely
such as mower blades, or when working around	• Always support unit on approved jack stands when
sharp edges. Never wear gloves that are loose fitting
or that have tie straps, as these could cause your	working on an elevated unit, and keep unit from
hands to get caught by rotating parts, resulting in seri-	rolling by engaging parking brake and placing wheel
ous injury. Chemical-resistant Rubber gloves are rec-	chocks behind wheels still on floor or work table.
ommended when handling or pouring battery elec-	• Secure unit to work-surface of scissor-lift worktables
trolyte.	or other powered lift tables in accordance with the
• Steel-toe safety shoes are highly recommended to	manufacturer’s instructions. Unsecured units may roll
protect feet from falling tools, heavy parts, and other	unexpectedly while work is being done, causing
shop equipment.	injuries.
Battery/Electrolyte Safety	• Never work under an elevated unit unless it is proper-
• Lead-Acid batteries use an electrolyte containing sul-	ly supported by jack stands, locked from rolling with
	wheel chocks or equivalent, and you can quickly
phuric acid, a highly corrosive liquid that can cause	escape from under the unit in an emergency using a
severe chemical burns if allowed to come into contact	rolling device such as a mechanic’s creeper.
with skin, or blindness if allowed to contact your eyes.	• Always protect your eyes from falling debris or small
Always wear approved eye goggles or a full face
	parts by wearing approved safety glasses or goggles.
shield and protective gloves when handling elec-
trolyte or filling the battery.	• Remove the ignition key and disconnect the spark
• Lead-acid batteries also produce hydrogen, a color-	plug wires before working under a unit. Accidental or
	inadvertent starting could result in serious injuries.
less, highly explosive gas that can be easily ignited
	Proper Tool Use
by a single spark. Charging the battery incorrectly or
hooking up jumper cables improperly can cause

sparking, and must be avoided. Always follow rec-	• Use power and hand tools only for the use that they
	were designed. Never alter or modify tools, or impro-
ommended battery charging and jumper cable pro-
	vise using tools that are not suitable for the job at
cedures.
	hand.
• When removing or installing battery cables, discon-
	• Keep all hand and power tools in good repair, and put
nect the negative cable FIRST, and reconnect it
	them away when done to avoid cluttering the work
LAST. If not done in this order, the positive terminal
	area. Use extra care when using corded tools around
could be accidentally shorted to the frame by a tool,
	moving or rotating parts such as belts and pulleys,
creating a dangerous spark that can ignite nearby fuel
	since the cord could get caught and suddenly pull the
vapors or escaping hydrogen gas from the battery.
	tool, or you, into the area of moving parts.
• Keep battery securely fastened in position with vent
	• Always check the unit to ensure that all hand and
tube directed down and out of battery compartment.
	power tools and tool attachments have been removed
Replace battery if electrolyte leakage occurs. Make
	from the unit after use. Small tools and tool attach-
sure the battery vent tube is properly installed, and is
	ments left on the equipment can fall into the cutting
not plugged with clippings or other debris. Replace
	path when the unit is placed into service, and become
the vent tube if cracked, damaged, or missing from
	a hazard to bystanders if struck by mower blades.
unit.
• Old batteries should be disposed of by recycling.
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