A pressure washer is a device used to spray water at high force or pressure. They are used for large cleaning tasks like washing building surfaces, vehicles, roads, and a range of farm equipment. They are also the go-to solution for clean-up during disasters. Pressure washers are also often used in situations where injury risks are high. Pressure washers spray water at Max. Pressure. While this is beneficial, it is also risky. Therefore, this post discusses pressure washer safety risks.
What are the top pressure washer safety risks?
Using a pressure washer comes with a wide range of safety risks. They all present differently and at different levels. They include;
1. Injury risks
Pressure washers pose severe injury risks. The water comes out of the device at high pressure. Therefore, when the water touches the human skin at this pressure, it may cause injuries. At first, the injuries may appear trivial. However, when the injuries are not attended to, they may result in severe infection and issues. In worse cases, they may cause disability or amputation.
2. Damage risks
Pressure washers can cause significant damages in their application areas. For instance, when using a pressure washer to clean paint off of the walls of a building, the water comes in contact with the windows and breaks them. The broken windows may cause injuries to people around. Additionally, the pressurized water may throw an object, potentially causing injuries and property damages.
Using a pressure washer at maximum pressure to clean a vehicle can also damage it. For instance, it may cause its paint to come off and cause dents on the car. Therefore, the pressure washer will cause more damage instead of getting the dirt out. The same applies when cleaning other objects and surfaces.
3. The risk of electric shock
This is a common risk when using electric pressure washers. Water and electricity are a deadly combination. Therefore, any mishandling can cause severe issues like an electric shock. The best electric pressure washer brands come with safety instructions. Failure to follow the instructions increases the risk of electric shock.
4. Poisoning risks
Gas-powered risks also pose poisoning risks. More often than not, the gas used to power gas pressure washers is carbon monoxide. When they are used indoors, they can cause gas poisoning.
Can you protect yourself and your property from the pressure washer safety risks above?
You can do the primary thing to ensure pressure washer safety by reading the safety instructions and following them. In a nutshell, it all boils down to proper usage. However, you can also protect yourself and your property by moving away from the spraying water and moving your property aside. Determining the right water pressure depending on the application can also help.
Conclusion
Pressure washers are not that hard to use. The best brands offer precise and extensive instructions for usage and safety. If the instruction manual is not sufficient, you can always seek professional advise or watch videos on the internet. This will help eliminate the risks and get you the best results from using the device.