Echo CS-450P Operator's Manual

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Echo CS-450P Operator's Manual Manual pdf 8 page image

8CS-450PVIBRATION AND COLD• It is believed that a condition called Raynaud’sPhenomenon, which affects the fingers of certainindividuals, may be brought about by exposure tovibration and cold.Exposure to vibration and cold may causetingling and burning followed by loss of color andnumbness in the fingers.The following precautions are stronglyrecommended because the minimum exposurewhich might trigger the ailment is unknown.• Keep your body warm, especially the head andneck, feet and ankles and hands and wrists.• Maintain good blood circulation by performingvigorous arm exercises during frequent workbreaks and also by not smoking.• Limit the number of hours of operation.Try to fill each day with jobs where operating thechain saw, or other hand-held power equipmentis not required.• If you experience discomfort redness andswelling of the fingers, followed by whitening andloss of feeling, consult your physician beforefurther exposing yourself to cold and vibration.REPETITIVE STRESS INJURY• It is believed that over-using the muscles andtendons of the finger, hands, arms and shouldersmay cause soreness, swelling, numbness,weakness and extreme pain to the areas justmentioned.Certain repetitive hand activities may put you ata high risk for developing a repetitive stressinjury (RSI).• An extreme RSI condition is Carpal TunnelSyndrome (CTS) which could occur when yourwrist swells and squeezes a vital nerve that runsthrough the area. Some believe that prolongedexposure to vibration may contribute to CTS.CTS can cause severe pain for months or evenyears.To reduce the risk of RSI/CTS, do the following:• Avoid using your wrist in a bent, extended ortwisted position.• Take periodic breaks to minimize repetition andrest your hands.• Reduce the speed and force in which you do therepetitive movement.• Do exercises to strengthen hand and armmuscles.• See a doctor if you feel tingling, numbness orpain in your fingers, hands, wrists or arms.The sooner RSI/CTS is diagnosed, the morelikely permanent nerve and muscle damage canbe prevented.EYE AND HEARING PROTECTION• Wear eye protection goggles that meet ANSIZ 87.1 requirements.Goggles meeting the requirements have themark “Z 87” stamped on them.• Wear hearing protection.If this guideline is not followed, hearing loss canoccur.ECHO recommends wearing hearing protectionat all times.WEAR PROPER CLOTHING• Snug fitting durable clothing should be worn.Pants should have long legs, DO NOT WEARSHORTS.Do not wear loose fitting clothing, scarves,neckties, jewelry or any item that may becometangled in surrounding growth or the chain sawitself.• Wear shoes with non-skid soles.DO NOT wear open toed shoes or operate unitbarefooted.• Wear no-slip, heavy duty work gloves to improveyour grip on the chain saw handles.The gloves also help reduce the transmission ofmachine vibration to your hands.HOT HUMID WEATHER• Heavy protective clothing can increaseoperator fatigue which may lead to heatstroke.Schedule heavy work for early morning, or lateafternoon hours when temperatures are cooler.AVOID HOT SURFACES• During operation, the muffler or catalytic mufflerand surrounding cover become hot.• Never suspend the saw on a lanyard with theengine running.• Always use the saw from the right-hand side ofyour body - NEVER from the left side.• Always wear proper safety clothing to protectyour lower body from sharp saw chain and hotmuffler.• Always keep exhaust area clear of flammabledebris during transportation or when storing,otherwise serious property damage or personalinjury may result.OPERATOR SAFETY