4Physical ConditionYour judgment and physical dexterity may not be good:• if you are tired or sick,• if you are taking medication,• if you have taken alcohol or drugs.Operate unit only if you are physically and mentally well.Eye ProtectionWear eye protection that meets ANSI Z87.1 or CE re-quirements whenever you operate the unit.Hand ProtectionWear no-slip, heavy-duty work gloves to improve yourgrip on the handle. Gloves also reduce the transmissionof machine vibration to your hands.Hearing ProtectionECHO recommends wearing hearing protection when-ever unit is used.Extended Operation/Extreme ConditionsIt is believed that a condition called Raynaud’s Phenomenon, which affects the fingers of certain individuals, may bebrought about by exposure to vibration and cold. Exposure to vibration and cold may cause tingling and burning sensa-tions, 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 exer-cises during frequent work breaks, and also by not smoking.• Limit the hours of operation. Try to fill each day with jobs where op-erating the unit or other hand-held power equipment is not required.• If you experience discomfort, redness, and swelling of the fingers fol-lowed by whitening and loss of feeling, consult your physician beforefurther exposing yourself to cold and vibration.personal condItIon and safety equIpmentWARNINGUsers of this product risk injury to themselves and others if the unit is used improperly and/or safety precautions arenot followed. Proper clothing and safety gear must be worn when operating unit.Proper ClothingWear snug fitting, durable clothing;• Pants should have long legs, shirts with long sleeves.• DO NOT WEAR SHORTS,• DO NOT WEAR TIES, SCARFS, JEWELRY.Wear protective hair covering to contain long hair.Wear sturdy work shoes with nonskid soles;• DO NOT WEAR OPEN TOED SHOES,• DO NOT OPERATE UNIT BAREFOOTED.Keep long hair away from engine and air intake. Retainhair with cap or net.Hot Humid WeatherHeavy protective clothing can increase operator fatiguewhich may lead to heat stroke. Schedule heavy work forearly morning or late afternoon hours when temperaturesare cooler.