Echo HEDGE TRIMMERS SAFETY MANUAL
HEDGE CLIPPER SAFETY MANUAL
DANGER!
Misuse may result in serious or fatal injuries. You must read, understand, and follow these safety instructions and the instructions in your
Operator’s Manual before operating a Hedge Clipper.
DANGER!
Hedge Clipper blades are very sharp and can cause severe injuries,
even if engine is off and blades are not moving. Avoid contact with
blades. Wear gloves to protect hands. Place blade cover on blades
when transporting or storing unit.
To locate your nearest Echo dealer, visit our website at www.echo-usa.com, or call 1-800432-ECHO (3246). Ask how to obtain a FREE Safety Video. Echo’s supplemental Safety
Video provides helpful safety and operating information.
X7522240002
89857008963
10/07
INTRODUCTION
W ARNING
This manual describes how to protect yourself and others from hazards related to operation of
a gasoline or electric-powered hedge clipper.
Before assembling, fueling, or operating your hedge clipper, you must read this Safety Manual
and your Hedge Clipper Operator’s Manual. You must also understand and obey all safety
rules, precautions, and operating instructions.
You must also be alert at all times, and be physically capable of handling and controlling a
power hedge clipper in a variety of cutting applications. If you are unable to handle the hedge
clipper safely, or if you feel that the cutting task you wish to perform may put yourself, your
property, or others at risk, please call a professional landscape maintenance company to
handle the job.
Echo highly recommends that you obtain and review the supplemental Echo Hedge Clipper
Safety Video before using your unit. Contact your Echo dealer for a copy, or for more information, or call Echo at 1-800-432-ECHO. You may also visit Echo’s website at
www.Echo-USA.com.
T ABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................ 2
SAFETY SYMBOLS AND WARNINGS .....................................................................3
OPERATOR SAFETY................................................................................................6
ASSEMBLY .............................................................................................................11
FUELING .................................................................................................................12
STARTING...............................................................................................................15
OPERATION ............................................................................................................17
MAINTENANCE.......................................................................................................24
STORAGE................................................................................................................26
ELECTRIC HEDGE CLIPPERS ..............................................................................27
DEFINITIONS ..........................................................................................................31
2
SAFETY SYMBOLS AND WARNINGS
These important safety symbols and warnings are used throughout this manual, and may also
appear in your Operator's Manual. These symbols and warnings are provided to help make
you aware of potential hazards, and the precautions you must take to protect yourself and
others from injury. You must read this information and understand these symbols, and obey the
instructions. These symbols may also appear on safety labels as a visual reminder to follow
these important precautions whenever you are transporting, fueling, operating, servicing, or
handling, or storing your hedge clipper.
Circle/Slash Prohibition Symbol
This symbol means that the specific action shown is
prohibited. Ignoring these prohibitions can result in
serious or fatal injury.
Safety Alert Symbol
The Safety Alert symbol is used to alert you to potential
personal injury hazards. To avoid serious or fatal
injuries, obey all safety messages that follow this symbol.
Safety Alert Symbol/DANGER Signal Word
The safety alert symbol appearing with the word “Danger!” calls attention to a hazard which will result in death
or serious injury if not avoided.
Safety Alert Symbol/WARNING Signal Word
The safety alert symbol appearing with the word “Warning!” calls attention to a hazard which could result in
death or serious injury if not avoided.
Safety Alert Symbol/CAUTION Signal Word
The safety alert symbol appearing with the word “Caution!” calls attention to a hazard which may result in
minor or moderate injury if not avoided.
NOTICE signal word only. (No safety alert symbol)
The word "NOTICE” calls attention to a situation which
may result in property or equipment damage if the
information that is provided is not followed .
DANGER
WARNING
CAUTION
NOTICE
3
SAFETY SYMBOLS AND WARNINGS
Read Operator's and Safety Manuals
Read manuals carefully, and follow rules for safe operation. Failure to do so could result in serious or fatal injury.
Wear Head, Eye, and Hearing Protection
Wear head, hearing, eye protection that meet ANSI
requirements.
Wear Hand Protection
Wear heavy duty work gloves to protect hands
Sharp Blades Alert
Contact with blades can result in amputation of fingers
Carbon Monoxide Hazard Alert
Do not operate indoors. Breathing Carbon Monoxide can
cause serious or fatal injuries.
Explosion Hazard Alert
Gasoline vapor can explode if exposed to sparks or open
flame.
Burn Hazard Alert
Contact with hot surfaces can cause serious burns.
Fire Hazard Alert
Risk of fire from gasoline spills or leaks. Wipe up spills
immediately and dispose of wipes in an approved firesafe container.
Shock Hazard Alert
Unit not insulated against electrical current. Avoid power
lines.
Slip Hazard Alert
Wear slip-resistant footwear to reduce risk of falls.
4
SAFETY SYMBOLS AND WARNINGS
Operate Only With Handle Guard/Do Not Remove
Hand Guard (Double-sided Blades)
Do not operate without hand guard in place.
Operate Only With Handle Guard/Do Not Remove
Hand Guard (Single-sided Blades)
Do not operate without hand guard in place.
Stop Symbol
Indicates the “Stop” position for the engine ignition
switch (Stop Switch).
Keep Bystanders 15 Feet Away
Keep bystanders at least 5 m (15 feet) away when
operating hedge clippers.
Do Not Operate Near Electrical Lines
Do not operate closer than 15 m (50 ft.) to electrical
lines.
Flame Prohibition
Do not allow flames or sparks near fuel or fuel vapors.
No Smoking Prohibition
Do not smoke near fuel.
5
OPERATOR SAFETY
OPERATOR SAFETY
DANGER
Echo hedge clippers are powerful, professional-grade
tools designed to cut through bushes, hedges, shrubs,
and other woody growth. When used properly, these
hedge clippers save time, reduce effort, and make
difficult landscaping tasks easy. If handled carelessly or
used improperly, these powerful cutting tools can cause
severe injury or death.
Before using these hedge clippers, you must:
• Read and understand this Safety Manual
• Read and understand the Operator’s Manual pro-
vided with your unit.
• Wear appropriate protective equipment
• Make sure all others who use the hedge clippers
have read and understand both manuals before
fueling or operating the tool.
• Clear the work area of bystanders and pets
• Clear the work area of debris and other work haz-
ards
• Make sure you have safe, unobstructed footing
• Make sure the material to be cut is free of hidden
hazards
• Safely prepare the fuel/oil mix
• Fuel your unit safely
• Store the fuel container safely
PHYSICAL CONDITION
W ARNING
Operating this unit while you are impaired can result in
serious personal injury or death to yourself and others.
Never operate the unit if you are fatigued, or are under
the influence of alcohol, medication, or any other substances that can affect your judgment, reflexes, vision,
or coordination. You must be mentally alert and physically able to operate a hedge clipper safely.
6
OPERATOR SAFETY
If you are impaired in any way, or are physically unable
to safely operate and control the unit, do not fuel, start,
or attempt to use the unit.
PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT
WARNING
Operating a power hedge clipper exposes you to sharp,
fast-moving blades, powerful cutting action, flying debris, sharp sticks and branches, and other work area
hazards. These hazards can cause serious injury to you
and others if you do not take the precautions necessary
to protect yourself.
To help protect against injury caused by these hazards,
you must wear appropriate personal protective equipment:
Eye and Face Protection
Wear eye protection that meets ANSI Z87.1 requirements. For additional safety, a full-face shield may we
worn over safety goggles to provide protection from
sharp branches or flying debris.
Hearing/Ear Protection
Echo highly recommends wearing ANSI-approved
hearing protection whenever you are operating the unit.
Hearing protection prevents hearing loss caused by
frequent or prolonged exposure to engine noise. Echo
recommends ear plugs, or for constant, heavy-duty use,
wear earmuff-style hearing protection.
Combination Head/Eye/Face/Hearing Protection
For complete eye/face/hearing protection, the use of a
combination safety helmet/ear muffs/face shield provides head, face, and hearing protection all in one unit.
Designs
conforming to ANSI
Z87.1
Goggles
*Face Shield
*Danger: Use Goggles Under Face
Shield
7
OPERATOR SAFETY
PROTECTIVE CLOTHING
Gloves
Wear sturdy work gloves to provide protection against
cuts and scratches.
WARNING
Sharp Blades/Powerful Cutting Action. Work gloves and
other heavy work clothing may not provide protection
against serious injury if contact is made with moving
blades. Contact with cutting edges of moving blades will
cause severe injury or amputation. Keep hands, fingers,
and all other body parts away from moving blades.
Safety
Goggles
Always move ignition switch to STOP position, allow
blades to stop moving, and disconnect spark plug lead
from spark plug before clearing jams or making blade
adjustments.
Leg Protection
Wear long pants to protect legs from cuts and scratches
caused by sharp branches.
Foot Protection
Wear sturdy shoes or work boots to provide foot protection. Steel-toe shoes or boots provide extra protection
against dropped or falling objects. Make sure soles are
non-slip for secure footing.
General Clothing Safety
Never wear ties, loose clothing, or clothing with strings,
frills, or dangling straps. Keep clothing buttoned or
zipped, and keep shirt tails tucked in. Never wear
dangling or hanging jewelry such as earrings or necklaces, or any other items that could become entangled
with branches or equipment, and be drawn into the air
intake grid of the engine.
Work
Gloves
Long Pants
Boots
Always wear proper clothing when
using the hedge clipper.
8
DUST PROTECTION
Operators who are sensitive to wood dust or other
common airborne allergens may need to wear a dust
mask to prevent inhaling these materials while cutting.
Dust masks can provide protection against sawdust,
plant debris, and other plant matter such as pollen.
Make sure the mask does not impair your vision, and
replace the mask as needed to prevent air restrictions.
PROTECTION AGAINST COLD OR VIBRATION
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.
OPERATOR SAFETY
Raynaud's Syndrome
A condition known as Raynaud’s Syndrome can occur
from exposure to cold and/or vibration. This condition
affects the hands and arms, causing tingling, burning,
numbness, and loss of color in the fingers. The amount
of exposure needed to trigger this is unknown, and
varies by individual.
To protect yourself from this condition, take the following
precautions:
• Keep your body warm - pay particular attention to
head and neck, hands and wrists, and feet and
ankles.
• Avoid awkward grips on the unit that may cause
stress. Maintain control, but do not hold the unit with
an excessively tight grip.
• Take regular rest breaks.
• Exercise and stretch to strengthen muscles, and to
maintain circulation. Keep exposure to vibration at a
minimum.
• If you experience discomfort, redness, and/or swelling of the fingers, followed by whitening or loss of
feeling, stop using the unit, and contact a doctor.
9
OPERATOR SAFETY
Repetitive Stress Injuries (RSI)
Overuse of the muscles and tendons of the fingers hands, arms, and shoulders may cause
soreness, swelling, numbness, weakness, and pain in these areas. Repetitive hand/wrist
movement can put you at high risk for developing a Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI), such as
Carpel Tunnel Syndrome (CTS). Carpal Tunnel Syndrome occurs when swelling in the wrist
puts pressure on a nerve, resulting in severe pain.
To protect yourself from these conditions, take the following precautions:
• Avoid using your wrist in a bent or twisted position.
Try to maintain a straight wrist position.
• Avoid using your thumb and index finger to grip
things - use your whole hand.
• Take regular rest breaks.
• Exercise and stretch to strengthen muscles and
maintain circulation.
• Keep exposure to vibration at a minimum.
• Reduce the speed and force of repetitive move-
ments.
• If you experience tingling, numbness, or pain in the
fingers, hands, wrists, or arms, stop using the unit
immediately, and contact a doctor. Early diagnosis
of RSI can help prevent permanent nerve and
muscle damage.
ASSEMBLY
WARNING
Hedge clipper blades are extremely sharp. Accidental hand or body contact with blades can result
in severe cuts, even if the engine is off and blades
are not moving. Always wear sturdy work gloves when
handling the hedge clipper, and do not allow blades to
touch any part of your body.
If your hedge clipper requires assembly before it can be
used, you must make sure all guards, shields, and
protective devices are properly installed. NEVER fuel,
start, or operate your unit without all guards and shields
in place, or without all protective devices such as throttle
lock-out levers working properly.
If parts are missing, or if you have a problem installing
parts, contact your Echo Dealer for assistance or call
Echo Consumer Product Support at 1-800-673-1558.
10
ASSEMBLY
After assembly, check your unit to make sure guards, shields, protective devices, and all other
parts are properly and securely assembled and working correctly. See the Operator’s Manual
for details about part locations for your unit.
• Make sure all required hardware has been used and is properly tightened.
• Make sure throttle lock-out lever resets when released.
• Make sure throttle trigger returns to normal position when released.
• Make sure stop switch functions properly
Blade Cover
The hedge clipper blades are covered by a removable
protective cover to prevent accidental contact with
sharp edges. Keep the protective cover on the blades
until you are ready to install the blade stiffener, make
blade adjustments, or operate the hedge clipper. Place
the blade cover over the blades after cutting is completed, and keep the blade cover on the blades when
carrying, transporting, or storing the unit.
Blade Stiffener Installation
Echo provides a blade stiffener with most hedge clipper models. The blade stiffener is strongly recommended for use in all homeowner or light duty cutting
applications. In commercial cutting applications, or
when cutting thick, dense branches, cutting capacity
may be increased by cutting without the blade stiffener.
Use extreme care when cutting without blade stiffener.
Follow instructions in Operator’s Manual to install or
remove blade stiffener.
W ARNING
Accidental contact with blades can cause serious
injury. Avoid ALL bodily contact with cutting edges.
Stabilize unit before working on blades. Use properly
sized metric socket wrenches and minimum 4 inch
(100 mm) long socket wrench extension to keep hands
at a safe distance from blades when installing and
removing blade stiffener, or whenever adjusting blade
tightness.
WARNING
11
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