Use and Care Manual

SAFETY SRM-266

10 X7502028001

• 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,

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). 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. 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.