Identify Slopes for Safe Operation

• Establish your own special procedures and rules for operating on slopes. These procedure must include a survey of all mowing sites to determine which slopes are safe for machine operation. Always use common sense and good judgement when performing this survey.
• Lay a straight piece of sturdy lumber 1.2 m (4 ft) long on the slope and measure the angle of the slope with an angle indicator or protractor level.
• Never mow or operate machine on slope angles greater than 20°.
• Exceeding the maximum recommended slope angle of 20° increases the risk of rollover accidents that can result in serious injury or death.
• Always consider potential turf conditions and slope angles when determining the risk of loss-of-control and tip-over accidents.
• On slope angles of 10° or less the risk of rollover is low, but as the slope angle increases to the John Deere recommended maximum of 20° the risk increases to a moderate level.
• The recommended slope angles are for a machine in its basic configuration. The basic configuration is mower deck only, no cab, MCS or other attachments. The addition of a cab, MCS or other attachments will increase the risk of a rollover and decrease the recommended operating slope.