Pressure Washer Injuries: More Serious Than People Realise
A 150-bar water jet can inject water and debris through unbroken skin into subcutaneous tissue. These "water injection injuries" look minor externally but cause severe internal tissue damage requiring surgical treatment. Every year, DIY users cause serious hand and foot injuries by treating a pressure washer like a garden hose. It is not a garden hose.
Personal Protective Equipment
- Feet: Never use a pressure washer in flip-flops, trainers or bare feet. Wear steel-toed boots or at minimum heavy rubber boots. The foot is the most commonly injured body part — a slip of the wand while pointing downward.
- Eyes: Safety glasses minimum. A pressure washer jet can propel grit and debris at high velocity — eye injuries happen in seconds.
- Hands: Never point the wand at your own hands or anyone else's.
- Hearing: Petrol pressure washers run at 95–100 dB. Ear protection for sessions over 15 minutes.
Surface Damage Risks
- High-pressure jets strip mortar from pointing — never use high-pressure nozzles directly into brick or stone joints
- Wood decking and fencing: maximum 80–100 bar at 30+ cm distance. Higher pressure raises wood grain and leaves a rough surface worse than the dirt you removed
- Vehicles: paint and trim damage from incorrect nozzle use or too-close approach is expensive. White (40°) nozzle at 30+ cm minimum distance
- Never pressure wash asbestos cement — high-pressure water aerosolises asbestos fibres, creating a serious respiratory hazard
Electrical Safety
- Never use an electric pressure washer without an RCD (residual current device) in the supply circuit
- Keep the pressure washer itself away from the area being washed — the pump housing is not sealed against water ingress
- Check the power cable for damage before each use
- Never spray near power distribution boxes, meters, or outdoor electrical equipment
Chemical Safety
Pressure washer detergent foams and chemical cleaners can damage plants, corrode metal and irritate skin. Wear chemical-resistant gloves when handling concentrates. Avoid applying chemical cleaners in wind (aerosol drift). Follow label dilution rates exactly — concentrated patio cleaner near lawn edges will kill grass.
FAQ
Is it safe to pressure wash a septic tank or soakaway cover?
No. High-pressure water can force water into soil air voids around septic systems, displace septic media, and damage the concrete or plastic cover structure. Clean drainage covers by hand brush only.