Safe operating practices
Thrown debris
To reduce the risks 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.
• Immediately stop using all your 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 muscle damage can
be prevented.
Be very careful when operating the multi-tool over uneven or rough ground, and
when the ground is wet and slippery. Watch out for hidden obstacles that could
cause you to stumble. Operate the multi-tool only under conditions with good
visibility. Do not operate the multi-tool where you cannot see what it is cutting.
WARNING!
Rotating cutting lines can cause serious abrasions and cuts, and
blades can cut deeply.
• Keep away from the cutting lines or blade whenever the engine is running.
• Always stop the engine, and be sure the cutting line head has stopped
turning, before inspecting or handling the cutting lines or blade.
The multi-tool will throw debris in the direction of blade movement at the point of
contact.
The cutting line head or blade on the multi-tool rotates anti-clockwise as viewed
from the operator’s position, so tilting the cutting line head to the right will throw
debris away from you, and tilting to the left will throw debris towards
you.
If the cutting line head or blade is held parallel to the
ground, debris will scatter in all directions, and there will
be greater friction which will wear out the cutting line or
blade sooner.
When operating the trimmer near a hard surface such
as a wall, work from an angle where debris that strikes
the hard surface will ricochet away from you Gravel, loose
stones, etc. can be picked up by the nylon cutting lines or
blade and thrown many feet with enough force to cause serious personal injury
and/or property damage. Before crossing graveled areas, release the throttle
trigger to stop the cutting line head or blade
WARNING! Keep all bystanders, especially
children and pets at least 15m from the operating area.
