Shindaiwa EB633RT Owner's/Operator's Manual page 6

WARNING
The components of this machine generate an electromagnetic field during operation, which may interfere with some
pacemakers. To reduce the risk of serious or fatal injury, persons with pacemakers should consult with their physician
and the pacemaker manufacturer before operating this machine. In the absence of such information, ECHO does not
recommend the use of this machine by anyone who has a pacemaker.
Extended Operation / Extreme Conditions
CAUTION
Prolonged exposure to cold and/or vibration may result in injury. Read and follow all safety and operation instructions
to minimize risk of injury. Failure to follow instructions may result in painful wrist/hand/arm injuries.
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 (RSI)
It is believed that overusing the muscles and tendons of the fingers,
hands, arms, and shoulders may cause soreness, swelling, numb-
ness, weakness, and extreme pain in those areas. Certain repetitive
hand activities may put you at a high risk for developing a Repeti-
tive Stress Injury (RSI). An extreme RSI condition is Carpal Tun-
nel Syndrome (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 posi-
tion. 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 repetition and rest your
hands.
• Reduce the speed and force with 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.
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