OPERATOR SAFETY
VIBRATION AND COLD
ss)T IS BELIEVED THATIAECONDITIONTCALLED 2AYNAUDS
Phenomenon, which affects the fingers of certain individuals, may be brought about by exposure to vibration and cold.
Exposure to vibration and cold may cause tingling and burning followed by loss of color and numbness in the fingers.
The following precautions are strongly recommended because the minimum exposure which might trigger the ailment is unknown.
ss+EEP YOUR BODY WARM ESPECIALLYWTHERHEAD AND neck, feet and ankles and hands and wrists.
ss
ss,IMITMTHETNUMBER OF HOURSMOF OPERATION
Try to fill each day with jobs where operating the chain saw, or other
ss)F YOU EXPERIENCEXDISCOMFORT REDNESS AND swelling of the fingers, followed by whitening and loss of feeling, consult your physician before further exposing yourself to cold and vibration.
REPETITIVE STRESS INJURY
ss)T IS BELIEVED THATIOVERUSING THE MUSCLES AND tendons of the finger, hands, arms and shoulders may cause soreness, swelling, numbness, weakness and extreme pain to the areas just mentioned.
Certain repetitive hand activities may put you at a high risk for developing a repetitive stress injury (RSI).
ss!N EXTREME 23) CONDITION IS)#ARPAL 4UNNELT
Syndrome (CTS) which could occur when your wrist swells and squeezes a vital nerve that runs through the area. Some believe that prolonged exposure to vibration may contribute to CTS. CTS can cause severe pain for months or even years.
To reduce the risk of RSI/CTS, do the following:
ss!VOIDOUSING YOUR WRIST INYAOBENT EXTENDED OR twisted position.
ss4AKE PERIODICEBREAKS TOIMINIMIZE REPETITIONTAND rest your hands.
ss2EDUCE THE SPEED AND FORCE INEWHICHAYOUDDO THE repetitive movement.
ss$O EXERCISES TOCSTRENGTHEN HAND ANDTARME muscles.
ss3EEEAEDOCTOR IFOYOUTFEEL TINGLING NUMBNESSEOR pain in your fingers, hands, wrists or arms. The sooner RSI/CTS is diagnosed, the more likely permanent nerve and muscle damage can be prevented.
EYE AND HEARING PROTECTION
ss7EAR EYE PROTECTIONPGOGGLESETHAT MEETN!.3)
Z 87.1 requirements.
Goggles meeting the requirements have the mark “Z 87” stamped on them.
ss7EAR HEARING PROTECTION
If this guideline is not followed, hearing loss can occur.
ECHO recommends wearing hearing protection at all times.
WEAR PROPER CLOTHING
ss3NUG lTTINGlDURABLENCLOTHING SHOULDLBE WORN
Pants should have long legs, do not wear shorts. Do not wear loose fitting clothing, scarves, neckties, jewelry or any item that may become tangled in surrounding growth or the chain saw itself.
ss7EAR SHOES WITHONONSKID SOLES
Do not wear open toed shoes or operate unit
barefooted.
ss7EAR NOSLIP OHEAVYLDUTY WORKHGLOVES TO IMPROVEY your grip on the chain saw handles.
The gloves also help reduce the transmission of machine vibration to your hands.
HOT HUMID WEATHER
ss(EAVYAPROTECTIVE CLOTHINGTCANVINCREASE OPERATORN fatigue which may lead to heat stroke.
Schedule heavy work for early morning, or late afternoon hours when temperatures are cooler.
AVOID HOT SURFACES
ss$URING OPERATION PTHERMUFmER ORNCATALYTICEMUFmER and surrounding cover become hot.
ss.EVERVSUSPENDSTHESSAWEON A LANYARD WITHATHE engine running.
ss!LWAYS USE THE SAW FROMTTHEERIGHTHAND SIDEOOF your body - never from the left side.
ss!LWAYS WEARSPROPER SAFETYPCLOTHING TO PROTECTE your lower body from sharp saw chain and hot muffler.
ss!LWAYS KEEPSEXHAUSTEAREA CLEAR OFUmAMMABLE debris during transportation or when storing, otherwise serious property damage or personal injury may result.
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