Operator Safety - Echo CS-310 Instruction Manual

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 followed by loss of color
and numbness in the fingers.
The following precautions are strongly recom-
mended because the minimum exposure which
might trigger the ailment is unknown.
• Keep your body warm, especially the head and
neck, feet and ankles and hands and wrists.
• Maintain good blood circulation by performing
vigorous arm exercises during frequent work
breaks and also by not smoking.
• Limit the number of hours of operation.
Try to fill each day with jobs where operating the
chain saw, or other hand-held power equipment
is not required.
• If you experience discomfort redness and swell-
ing of the fingers, followed by whitening and loss
of feeling, consult your physician before further
exposing yourself to cold and vibration.
REPETITIVE STRESS INJURY
• It is believed that over-using the muscles and
tendons of the finger, hands, arms and shoul-
ders 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 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.
• 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 hand and arm mus-
cles.
• See a doctor if you feel tingling, numbness or
pain in your fingers, hands, wrists or arms.
The sooner RSI/CTS is diagnosed, the more
likely permanent nerve and muscle damage can
be prevented.
CS-310

OPERATOR SAFETY

EYE AND HEARING PROTECTION
• Wear eye protection goggles that meet ANSI
• Wear hearing protection.
WEAR PROPER CLOTHING
• Snug fitting durable clothing should be worn.
• Wear shoes with non-skid soles.
• Wear no-slip, heavy duty work gloves to improve
• Keep long hair away from engine and air intake.
Retain hair with cap or net.
HOT HUMID WEATHER
• Heavy protective clothing can increase operator
AVOID HOT SURFACES
• During operation, the muffler or catalytic muffler
• Never suspend the saw on a lanyard with the
• Always use the saw from the right-hand side of
• Always wear proper safety clothing to protect
• Always keep exhaust area clear of flammable
10
Z 87.1 requirements.
Goggles meeting the requirements have
the mark "Z 87" stamped on them.
If this guideline is not followed, hearing loss can
occur.
ECHO recommends wearing hearing protection
at all times.
Pants should have long legs, DO NOT WEAR
SHORTS.
Do not wear loose fitting clothing, scarves,
neckties, jewelry or any item that may become
tangled in surrounding growth or the chain saw
itself.
DO NOT wear open toed shoes or operate unit
barefooted.
your grip on the chain saw handles.
The gloves also help reduce the transmission of
machine vibration to your hands.
fatigue which may lead to heat stroke.
Schedule heavy work for early morning,
or late afternoon hours when temperatures are
cooler.
and surrounding cover become hot.
engine running.
your body - NEVER from the left side.
your lower body from sharp saw chain and hot
muffler.
debris during transportation or when storing,
otherwise serious property damage or personal
injury may result.