HEDGE CLIPPER
OPERATOR'S MANUAL 5

EQUIPMENT

WARNING DANGER
Use only ECHO approved attachments. Serious injury may result from the use of a non-approved attachment combi-
nation. ECHO, INC. will not be responsible for the failure of cutting devices, attachments, or accessories which have
not been tested and approved by ECHO. Read and comply with all safety instructions listed in this manual and safety
manual.
• Check unit for loose/missing nuts, bolts, and screws. Tighten and/or
replace as needed.
• Inspect fuel lines, tank and area around carburetor for fuel leaks. DO
NOT operate unit if leaks are found.
• Inspect hand guard for damage. Replace if damaged or missing.
• Check that the blade assembly is firmly attached and in safe operating
condition. Dull, loose or damaged blades should not be used.

EXTENDED OPERATION/EXTREME CONDITIONS

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 sensations, 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, neck, feet, ankles, hands,
and wrists.
• Maintain good blood circulation by performing vigorous arm
exercises during frequent work breaks, and also by not smoking.
• Limit the hours of operation. Try to fill each day with jobs where
operating the unit or other hand-held power equipment is not
required.
• 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 Injuries

It is believed that overusing the muscles and tendons of the fingers,
hands, arms, and shoulders may cause soreness, swelling, numbness,
weakness, and extreme pain in those areas. 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 expo-
sure 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, ex-
tended, or twisted position. Instead try to
maintain a straight wrist position. Also,
when grasping, use your whole hand, not
just the thumb and index finger.
• Take periodic breaks to minimize repeti-
tion and rest your hands.
• Reduce the speed and force with which
you do the repetitive movement.
• Do exercise to strengthen the hand and
arm muscles.
• Immediately stop using all power equip-
ment and consult a doctor if you feel
tingling, numbness, or pain in the fingers,
hands, wrists, or arms. The sooner RSI/
CTS is diagnosed, the more likely perma-
nent nerve and muscle damage can be
prevented.