Pump Safety Guidelines

1 Read the Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual for your pump before installing, operating or performing maintenance on the pump or its related equipment.

2 Overheated pumps can cause severe burns and injury. If overheating of pump casing occurs:

a Stop pump immediately.

b Allow pump to cool to air temperature.

c Slowly and cautiously vent pump at drain plug.

d Refer to Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual before restarting.

3 Do not operate pump without all guards and shields in place.

4 Cautiously approach any pump that has been in operation.

5 Pump only liquids for which the pump was designed.

6 Do not pump flammable or corrosive liquids unless pump and piping are designed for such.

7 Operating pump with suction and/or discharge closed is one cause of severe overheating.

8 Note direction of rotation -- operating pump in wrong direction may cause impeller to unscrew and damage pump casing or other pump parts.

9 Locate the pump in an accessible location, as close as safely possible to the liquid to be pumped.

10 Check all lubricants before installation and operation and in accordance with maintenance programs.

11 When lifting pumps, use only lifting equipment in good repair with adequate capacity.

12 Never operate a self-priming pump unless the pump casing is filled with liquid. Doing so may damage the pump. The pump will not prime unless the pump casing is filled with liquid.

13 Do not remove the coverplate, fill port cap, gauge port plug, or drain plug from any overheated pump. Allow pump to cool to air temperature. Check pump temperature before opening coverplate, fill port, gauge port plug or drain plug.

14 Do not operate pump against a closed valve.

15 Check the suction strainer regularly to be sure that it is not clogged.

16 Secure the pump so that it cannot move after it is in its operating position.

17 Never operate pumps in explosive or volatile atmospheres unless they are designed to be operated in these environments.

18 Check the pump thoroughly upon delivery for any shipping damage.

19 Never wear loose clothing around machinery.

20 Always read and keep the Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual for your pump.

21 When overhauling pumps, never remove or cover warning tags and labels.

22 Be sure that only experienced personnel operate machinery.

23 Before working on pumps with electric motors and panels, LOCK control panel in the OFF position:

a If control panel cannot be locked, pull main fuse or circuit breaker.

b Remove all V-belts.

c Disengage drive coupling.

24 Drain pump completely of water before freezing weather.

25 Do not work in underground pump systems alone or without adequate ventilation.

Used with permission from The Gorman-Rupp Company. Copyright 2002, The Gorman-Rupp Company, all rights reserved. For further information, visit www.gormanrupp.com.