Warn Basic Guide to Winching (Domestic)

GENERAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

Warnings and Cautions

WARNING

As you read these instructions, you will see WARNINGS, CAUTIONS, NOTICES and NOTES. Each message has a specific purpose. WARNINGS are safety messages that indicate a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided could result in serious injury or death. CAUTIONS are safety messages that indicate a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in minor or moderate injury. A CAUTION may also be used to alert against unsafe practice. CAUTIONS and WARNINGS identify the hazard, indicate how to avoid the hazard, and advise of the probable consequence of not avoiding the hazard. NOTICES are messages to avoid property damage. NOTES are additional information to help you complete a procedure. PLEASE WORK SAFELY!

MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD Failure to observe these instructions could lead to serious injury or death. Winching Safety: • Always inspect winch rope, hook, and slings before operating winch. Frayed, kinked or damaged winch rope must be replaced immediately. Damaged components must be replaced before operation. Protect parts from damage. • Always remove any element or obstacle that may interfere with safe operation of the winch. • Always be certain the anchor you select will withstand the load and the strap or chain will not slip. • Always use supplied hook strap whenever spooling winch rope in or out, during installation and during operation. • Always require operators and bystanders to be aware of vehicle and or load. • Always be aware of stability of vehicle and load during winching, keep others away. Alert all bystanders of an unstable condition. • Always unspool as much winch rope as possible when rigging. Double line or pick distant anchor point. • Always take time to use appropriate rigging techniques for a winch pull. • Never touch winch rope or hook while someone else is at the control switch or during winching operation. • Never engage or disengage clutch if winch is under load, winch rope is in tension or drum is moving. • Never touch winch rope or hook while under tension or under load. • Always stand clear of winch rope and load and keep others away while winching. • Never use vehicle to pull load on winch rope. Combined load or shock load can damage, overload and break rope. • Never wrap winch rope back onto itself. Use a choker chain or tree trunk protector on the anchor.

MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD Failure to observe these instructions could lead to serious injury or death. General Safety: • Always Know Your Winch. Take time to fully read the Instructions and/or Operations Guide, and/or Basic Guide to Winching Techniques, in order to understand your winch and its operations. • Never exceed winch or winch rope rated capacity. Double line using a snatch block to reduce winch load. • Always wear heavy leather gloves when handling winch rope. • Never use winch or winch rope for towing. Shock loads can damage, overload and break rope. • Never use a winch to secure a load. • Never operate this winch when under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication. • Never operate this winch if you are under 16 years of age. Installation Safety: • Always choose a mounting location that is sufficiently strong to withstand the maximum pulling capacity of your winch. • Always use class 8.8 metric (grade 5) or better hardware. • Never weld mounting bolts. • Always use factory approved mounting hardware, components, and accessories. • Never use bolts that are too long. • Always confirm required bolt length to ensure proper thread engagement. • Always complete the winch installation and hook attachment before installing the wiring. • Always keep hands clear of winch rope, hook loop, hook and fairlead opening during installation, operation, and when spooling in or out. • Always position fairlead with warning readily visible on top. • Always prestretch rope and respool under load before use. Tightly wound rope reduces chances of “binding”, which can damage the rope.

FALLING OR CRUSHING HAZARD Failure to observe these instructions could lead to serious injury or death. • Always stand clear, keep hands clear, keep others away. Complete installation and hook attachment before wiring. • Never operate winch with less than 5 wraps of winch rope or 10 wraps of synthetic rope around the drum. Rope could come loose from the drum, as the rope attachment to the drum is not designed to hold a load. • Never use winch as a hoist or to suspend a load. • Always be certain anchor will withstand load, use appropriate rigging and take time to rig correctly. • Never use winch to lift or move persons. • Never use excessive effort to freespool winch rope. • Always use proper posture/lifting technique or get lifting assistance while handling and installing product. • Always wind the winch rope on bottom (mountside) of drum. • Never wind rope over top of drum. • Always spool the winch rope onto the drum in the direction specified by the drum rotation labels on the winch and/or in the documentation. This is required for the automatic brake (if so equipped) to function properly.

WARNING

MOVING PARTS ENTANGLEMENT HAZARD Failure to observe these instructions could lead to serious injury or death. • Always ensure hook latch is closed and not supporting load. • Never apply load to hook tip or latch. Apply load only to the center of hook. • Never use a hook whose throat opening has increased, or whose tip is bent or twisted. • Always use a hook with a latch. • Always ensure the operator and bystanders are aware of the stability of the vehicle and/or load. • Always keep wired remote control lead and power cord clear of the drum, rope, and rigging. Inspect for cracks, pinches, frayed wires or loose connections. Damaged components must be replaced before operation. • Always pass remote lead thru window when used in vehicle. • Never hook back on rope.

WARNING

CUT AND BURN HAZARD Failure to observe these instructions could lead to serious injury or death. To avoid injury to hands and fingers: • Always wear heavy leather gloves when handling winch rope. • Always be aware of possible hot surfaces at winch motor, drum or rope during or after winch use.

WARN INDUSTRIES • THE BASIC GUIDE TO WINCHING TECHNIQUES