Operating instructions
PERSONAL SAFETY
-Wear safety glasses at all times when working on pumps.
-Wear a face shield and proper protective gear when pumping hazardous chemicals.
-Keep the work area clean, uncluttered and properly lighted. Secure and stow all unused
tools and equipment.
-Keep visitors at a safe distance form work area.
-Make the workplace child proof with padlocks, master switches and by removing starter
keys.
Washer Dangerous, Safety Panel Warns…CPSC document 5069
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a warning to consumers who
use electrically powered pressure washers for cleaning milk tanks, spray tanks and other
farm equipment.
According to a federal safety alert, consumers can receive a fatal electrical shock from
pressure washers if the power cord connections become wet or an internal short exists.
Since the pressure washers are used to spray water, the power cord, washer and
consumer are often wet, and this can be fatal, especially if the machine is not properly
grounded, the report explained.
Consumers should not use adapter plugs to connect the three-wire plug to a two-prong
household receptacle without properly grounding the adaptor plug. Power cord
connections should never be allowed to lie in water.
The commission urges these precautions:
Always plug a 3-wire grounded pressure washer into a properly grounded receptacle. If
possible, use a receptacle protected by a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).
If an extension cord must be used, use a heavy-duty, 3-wire properly grounded and
properly sized for the equipment being used. Keep the cord connection out of the water
and away from the item being washed.
Wear rubber-soled footwear when operating the washer.
Never cut or splice the power cord or extension cords.
Never remove the grounding plug from the power cord.
Never operate the washer after it has tripped the GFCI or circuit breaker without first
having it examined by a competent repair person.
Never allow children to operate a pressure washer and keep children away form the
washer when an adult is using it.
For more information, consumers can call the UNITED STATES CONSUMER PRODUCT
SAFETY COMMISSION hotline, 800-638-CPSC (800-638-2772).
5