5
WARNING
PRECAUTION AGAINST 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 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 ENGINE DRILL 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.
PHYSICAL CONDITION
Your judgement and dexterity may be impaired if you
are ill or have taken alcohol or other substances known
to affect the way you would normally function.
Repetitive Stress Injuries
It is believed that over-using 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).
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 exercise to strengthen the hand and arm
muscles.
•
See 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.
WARNING
IF INTENDED USE INVOLVES PROLONGED
PERIODS OF OPERATION, THIS MAY CAUSE
CIRCULATORY PROBLEMS IN THE USER’S
HANDS DUE TO VIBRATION.
Painful or numb fingers?
See your doctor
