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SAFETYINSTRUCTIONS
PERSONAL CONDITION AND SAFETY EQUIPMENT
WARNING DANGER
Pro Attachment SeriesTM users risk injury to themselves and others if the Pro Attachment SeriesTM unit is used
improperly and or safety precautions are not followed. Proper clothing and safety gear must be worn when operating
a Pro Attachment SeriesTM unit.
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,becausethe minimum exposure whichmighttrigger the
ailmentisunknown.
• 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 trimmer 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).AnextremeRSIconditionisCarpalTunnelSyndrome
(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. Instead try
to maintain a straight wrist position.
Also, when grasping, use your whole
hand, not just the thumb and index finger.
• Takeperiodicbreakstominimizerepeti-
tion and rest your hands.
• Reduce the speed and force with which
you do the repetitive movement.
• Do exercises to strengthen the hand and
armmuscles.
• 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
likelypermanent nerve and muscle
damage can be prevented.
Physical Condition
Your judgment and physical dexterity may not be good:
• if you are tired or sick,
• ifyou aretaking medication,
• if you have taken alcohol or drugs.
Operate unit only if you are physically and mentally well.
Eye Protection
EyeprotectionthatmeetANSIZ87.1orCE requirements
must be worn whenever you operate the unit.
Hand Protection
Wear no-slip, heavy duty work gloves to improve your
grip on the handles. Gloves also reduce the transmission
of machine vibration to your hands.
Hearing Protection
Wearhearingprotection.ECHOrecommendswearing
hearing protection whenever unit is used.
Proper Clothing
Wear snug fitting, durable clothing;
• Pants should have long legs, shirts with long sleeves.
• DONOTWEARSHORTS,
• DONOTWEARTIES,SCARFS,JEWELRY.
Wear protective hair covering to contain long hair.
Wear sturdy work shoes with nonskid soles;
• DONOTWEAROPENTOEDSHOES,
• DONOTOPERATEUNITBAREFOOTED.
Wear no-slip, heavy duty work gloves.