7
Safety Precautions
Thermo King recommends that all service be
performed by a Thermo King dealer. However,
you should be aware of several general safety
practices:
The
symbol appears next to a point that is
particularly important
General Practices
DANGER: Denotes the possibility of
serious injury or death.
WARNING: Denotes the possibility of
serious equipment damage or serious
personal injury.
CAUTION: Denotes the possibility of
minor to severe equipment damage or
personal injury.
DANGER: Do not operate the compressor
with the discharge service valve closed.
This condition increases internal pressure,
which can cause an explosion.
DANGER: Never apply heat to a sealed
refrigeration system or container. Heat
increases internal pressure, which might
cause an explosion.
DANGER: Refrigerant in the presence of
an open flame, spark or electrical short
produces toxic gases that are severe
respiratory irritants.
DANGER: Keep your hands, clothing and
tools clear of fans when working on a unit
that is running. Loose clothing might
entangle moving pulleys or belts, causing
serious injury or possible death.
DANGER: Do not inhale refrigerant. Use
caution when working with refrigerant or
a refrigeration system in any confined
area with a limited air supply, such as a
cargo area or garage. Refrigerant
displaces air and can cause oxygen
depletion, resulting in suffocation and
possible death.
DANGER: Avoid engine operation in
confined spaces and areas or
circumstances where fumes from the
engine could become trapped and cause
serious injury or death.
WARNING: Make sure your gauge
manifold hoses are in good condition
before using them. Never let them come in
contact with moving belts, fans, pulleys or
hot surfaces. Defective gauge equipment
can damage components or cause serious
injury.
WARNING: Always wear goggles or safety
glasses when working on a unit.
Refrigerant liquid, oil and battery acid can
permanently damage your eyes. See “First
Aid” on page 10.
WARNING: Use extreme caution when
drilling holes in a unit. Holes might
weaken structural components. Holes
drilled into electrical wiring can cause a
fire or explosion.
WARNING: Exposed coil fins can cause
lacerations. Service work on the
evaporator or condenser coils is best left to
a certified Thermo King technician.
WARNING: Do not apply heat to a closed
cooling system. Before applying heat to a
cooling system, drain it. Then flush it with
water and drain the water. Antifreeze
contains water and ethylene glycol. The
ethylene glycol is flammable and can
ignite if the antifreeze is heated enough to
boil off the water.
WARNING: Be careful when using
ladders or scaffolding to install or service
a unit. Observe the manufacture’s safety
labels and warnings.
CAUTION: Make sure all mounting bolts
are tight and are the correct length for
their applications. Improper torque and
incorrect bolt lengths can damage
equipment.
