OPERATOR SAFETY
VIBRATION AND COLD
•It is believed that a condition called Raynaud’s 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.
•Keep your body warm, especially the head and neck, feet and ankles and hands and wrists.
•Maintain good blood circulation by performing vigorous arm exercises during frequent work breaks and also by not smoking.
•Limit the number of hours of operation.
Try to fill each day with jobs where operating the chain saw, or other
•If you experience discomfort 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
•It is believed that
Certain repetitive hand activities may put you at a high risk for developing a repetitive stress injury (RSI).
•An extreme RSI condition is Carpal Tunnel 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:
•Avoid using your wrist in a bent, extended or twisted position.
•Take periodic breaks to minimize repetition and rest your hands.
•Reduce the speed and force in which you do the repetitive movement.
•Do exercises to strengthen hand and arm muscles.
•See a doctor if you feel tingling, numbness or 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
•Wear eye protection goggles that meet ANSI Z 87.1 requirements.
Goggles meeting the requirements have the mark “Z 87” stamped on them.
•Wear hearing protection.
If this guideline is not followed, hearing loss can occur.
ECHO recommends wearing hearing protection at all times.
WEAR PROPER CLOTHING
•Snug fitting durable clothing should be 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.
•Wear shoes with
DO NOT wear open toed shoes or operate unit barefooted.
•Wear
The gloves also help reduce the transmission of machine vibration to your hands.
HOT HUMID WEATHER
•Heavy protective clothing can increase operator fatigue which may lead to heat stroke.
Schedule heavy work for early morning, or late afternoon hours when temperatures are cooler.
AVOID HOT SURFACES
•During operation, the muffler or catalytic muffler and surrounding cover become hot.
•Never suspend the saw on a lanyard with the engine running.
•Always use the saw from the
•Always wear proper safety clothing to protect your lower body from sharp saw chain and hot muffler.
•Always keep exhaust area clear of flammable debris during transportation or when storing, otherwise serious property damage or personal injury may result.
8 |
