Take Care When Using Portable Pressure Washers

Some portable pressure washers present a life-threatening risk to the user when used improperly, notes a North Dakota State University safety specialist.

"A small gasoline engine is used as the power source for these pressure washers," notes George Maher of the NDSU Extension Service. "Those small engines produce carbon monoxide in sufficient quantities to kill."

Maher notes that several cases have been documented where the operators of these portable power washers have fallen victim to the carbon monoxide from their machines. The washers were being used for various purposes, from cleaning farm machinery to livestock housing.

"In each situation, the power washer was being used indoors," Maher says. "And in some situations doors or windows had been opened for ventilation. A small gasoline engine really can produce enough carbon monoxide to kill a person in poorly ventilated surroundings."

Always follow the manufacturer's directions in the use of such machinery. Those directions will always require adequate ventilation. "Every internal combustion engine uses oxygen and produces deadly carbon monoxide," Maher says. "Any building that is tight and warm enough to allow the use of a pressure washer without it freezing up or causing the floor to ice over, is tight enough to allow asphyxiation to occur."

Maher says to never depend on the early symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning to warn you to evacuate the building. "It is very difficult to predict when a person is going to collapse and be unable to get to fresh air. It is possible that getting to fresh air may not be soon enough to prevent death," he says.

If you must use a pressure cleaner in a closed building or room, use an electrically powered pressure cleaner, he advises. Be sure it is electrically grounded to prevent electrocution.

"There is risk in using any powered machine," Maher notes. "Always select the machine with the lowest risk, follow instructions and be careful."

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