Domestic machines deliver 120 to 180 bar. Petrol machines deliver more. That is enough to break skin at close range.
Why the injury is deceptive
A high-pressure jet does not cut like a blade. It punctures, and then injects — water, dirt, detergent, whatever was on the surface — into the tissue underneath. The entry wound can be a pinhole. The damage is beneath it, and it develops over hours.
If it happens: seek medical attention immediately, and say it was a high-pressure injection injury. That phrase changes how the wound is assessed.
The habits that prevent it
Never point the gun at anyone, including yourself, and never at a foot to test it. Keep both hands on gun and lance. Fit the fan nozzle by default and the rotary nozzle only for the job that needs it. Wear closed shoes — the most common domestic injury is to a foot.
The rest of the hazards
Electricity and water: use an RCD, and never vacuum water from anything still connected. Steam leaves a boiler around 100 °C (212 °F). Ash keeps embers alive for far longer than it looks.
And the thing that damages more often than people
Render, decking, mortar joints, window seals and paint. Distance, angle and detergent are what protect them.
The questions we hear
What should I do if the jet catches my hand?
Treat it as urgent even if it looks trivial. A high-pressure injection injury can force water, dirt and detergent deep into tissue through a puncture the size of a pinhole, and the serious damage is under the skin where nothing is visible. Seek medical attention and say explicitly that it was a high-pressure injection — it changes how it is assessed.
Which nozzle is the most dangerous?
The rotary or pencil jet, because the entire output is concentrated on a point. A wide fan spreads the same energy over a line and is far less likely to break skin — which is why the fan is the default and the rotary nozzle is fitted deliberately.
Last reviewed 2026-08-15
