Common Pressure Washing Injuries
A lot of people underestimate the power of a pressure washing machine. Serious and even fatal accidents can result when using pressure washers improperly or if essential security measures are ignored. The two main varieties of pressure washing machines are electric and gas north vancouver pressure washing. Many gasoline pressure washers transcend 2.000 PSI and are capable of reaching pressures as high as 4,000 PSI on industrial units. Higher pressure is obviously a much faster and more efficient cleaning tool… but with all the greater strain, comes the greater chance for serious harm.
The absolute pressure of water is powerful enough to cause an injury, but utilizing chemicals throughout the cleaning procedure may make a bad situation worse.
Common Pressure Washing Review
Abrasions are a common injury associated with pressure washing. To reduce the danger of getting abrasions, wear protective clothing such as gloves, closed shoes and long pants. Avoid pointing the pressure washer at yourself, other people and pets. Do not depress the trigger until you’re certain of where the rifle is pointing and use care to not spray your hands, legs or feet.
Slips and falls may result in illness or death. Wet surfaces will be slippery and ice may form rapidly in cold climates. Using a pressure washer on a ladder or other elevated surface is dangerous due to the backward drive of a pressure washing gun, which can easily throw a person off balance. Understand your work area and the way that water will influence the surface. Use proper safety harnesses when operating a pressure washer in the ladder, lift, or crane.
Blindness and other eye injuries can happen not only from being sprayed right in the eye, but out of foreign objects or substances flying through the air. The ability of water in high stress can send stones, nails, glass, and other dangerous debris hurtling through the atmosphere at damaging speeds. Compounds and detergents may also splash up from the surface.
High-pressure injection (HPI) happens when water and other debris/chemical hydrates skin and causes deep tissue damage. To lower the risk of HPI, utilize wide angle or fan nozzles to disburse the pressure over a wider area. Solid stream nozzles can do more injury and need to be avoided whenever possible. As with abrasions, wear protective clothing rather than point the pressure washing machine on your own or another individual.
Particular concerns for each specific kind of machine also needs to be considered. With electric pressure washers (like any electric tool around water) there’s the risk of electric shock. Use of gas-powered pressure washers can result in asphyxiation by carbon monoxide inhalation if employed without proper venting. Gas units are also loud and may result in hearing loss – hearing protection should be worn in any way times. Misuse of hot-water and steam pressure washers may result in severe burns which could likely need medical attention. When working any pressure washer be sure to read and understand its operation manual, paying special attention to all safety precautions.
Conclusion
Don’t be one of those tens of thousands of individuals each year that underestimate the power of a pressure washer and finally require hospitalization for their own injuries. Give the machine the respect it deserves and utilize the necessary safety measures for each particular circumstance. In case you have any doubts about working a machine, consider hiring a mobile pressure washing service to complete your project. A quick online search for”pressure washing in (your town )” will probably lead to heaps of professional businesses that will be delighted to give you a free estimate.
