SOME ADDITIONAL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
PRECAUTIONS IN HOT, HUMID WEATHER - Heavy clothing can increase an operator’s fatigue. Heat stroke or heat exhaustion is pos- sible. Under these adverse conditions, you must judge whether wearing heavy protective clothing or lighter but less protective items bears the least risk. Or you might wisely choose to delay work until the temperature drops.
PRECAUTIONSAGAINST VIBRATIONAND 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 cold and vibration. Accordingly, your ECHO pole saw has a vibration reduction system designed to reduce the intensity of vibration received through the handles. Exposure to cold and vibration may cause tingling and burning followed by loss of color and numbness in the fingers. We strongly recommend that you take the following precautions 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 exer- cises during frequent work breaks and also by not smoking.
•Limit the number of hours of cutting operation. Try to fill a part of each work day with jobs other than pruning.
•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.
PRECAUTIONS AGAINST 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 to the areas just mentioned. 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 can 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. Instead, try to maintain a straight wrist position. Also, when grasp- ing, use your whole hand, not just the thumb and index finger.
•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 the hand and arm muscles.
•Immediately stop using all power equipment 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 permanent nerve and muscle damage can be prevented.
EQUIPMENT TO BRING ALONG - When using gasoline powered engines, fuel supplies should be carried in approved fuel containers. Bring an extinguisher or shovel in case of a fire. Despite the precautions which can be taken, operating a pole saw presents some dangers so keep a first aid kit handy.
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