ISO 4254-1:2008 specifies the general safety requirements and their verification for the design and construction of self-propelled ride-on machines and mounted, semi-mounted or trailed machines used in agriculture. In addition, it specifies the type of information on safe working practices (including residual risks) to be provided by the manufacturer.

ISO 4254-1:2008 deals with significant hazards (as listed in Annex A), hazardous situations and events relevant to this agricultural machinery used as intended and under the conditions foreseen by the manufacturer (see Clause 4).

ISO 4254-1:2008 is not applicable to tractors, aircraft, air-cushion vehicles, or lawn and garden equipment.

ISO 4254-1:2008 is not applicable to environmental hazards, road safety, electromagnetic compatibility, or to the power take-off (PTO) drive shaft; neither is it applicable to moving parts for power transmission except for strength requirements for guards and barriers (see 4.7), nor to vibration except in respect of declarations. It is not applicable to hazards related to maintenance or repairs to be carried out by professional service personnel.

ISO 4254-1:2008 is not applicable to machines which are manufactured before the date of its publication.

All of the hazards dealt with by ISO 4254-1:2008 will not necessarily be present on a particular machine. For any machine covered by ISO 4254-1:2008, the provisions of the part of ISO 4254 directly applicable to that type of machine, if available, take precedence over the provisions of ISO 4254-1:2008.