While operating a dozer on a steep slope, the engine suddenly loses power and stalls. You are unable to restart it. What is the most critical immediate action to prevent runaway on the slope?

Question: While operating a dozer on a steep slope, the engine suddenly loses power and stalls. You are unable to restart it. What is the most critical immediate action to prevent runaway on the slope?

Answer options:

• Attempt to drop the blade to create an anchor. ✅ Engage the emergency parking brake and/or the transmission park brake.
• Immediately exit the machine and move to a safe location.
• Continuously try to restart the engine until it catches.

Correct answer: Engage the emergency parking brake and/or the transmission park brake.

Explanation: If an engine stalls on a slope, the immediate and most critical action is to engage all available braking mechanisms, especially the emergency or parking brake, to prevent the machine from rolling down the incline, as emphasized in heavy equipment training manuals and safety procedures for working on grades.