Summary: A worker was cleaning the under body of an excavator with a 3000 psi high pressure water gun. While repositioning himself, the gun trigger was inadvertently activated, spraying the worker just above the right knee. The worker climbed down and walked to the back of the machine where he went into shock and fainted. There was no fluid injection involved.
Recommendations to industry: Mine operators and contract companies should review their procedures for the use of high pressure cleaning systems.
This should include the potential hazards associated with not isolating an energy source before moving and always keeping nozzle directed away from persons. Refer to SA14-03 Fluid injection from high pressure water cleaning and SA18-03 Two workers suffer serious high pressure fluid injection injuries in separate incidents.
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