Why it’s smart business to purchase only
Safety-Certified Equipment

Here are three key ways certification can protect you and your business

When it comes to product safety, there are three types of protection you receive when you purchase equipment that has been certified by a Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL), such as ETL, to the universally accepted UL-1776 safety standards for pressure washers:

Legal Compliance: It is the law in the workplace, according to OSHA regulation 1910.399 and 1910.303(a), all electrical and other types of equipment used in the workplace must be "listed" by an “approved” testing agency. Failure to comply can result in penalties assessed per infraction.

Worker Protection: It makes good business sense to make sure your workers are protected by providing them only the safest of equipment.

Liability Protection: In this day of costly litigation, one of your best legal protections against an accident on the job is purchasing only equipment that has been certified by an NRTL to rigorous safety standards.

The safety issue has become such an important factor that even the 1996 National Electrical Code (NEC) addresses the issue of pressure washers powered by electricity.

The NEC mandates that all portable pressure washers (except 3-phase and over 250V models) must have a "factory-installed ground-fault circuit-interrupter....[one that] shall be an integral part of the attachment plug or shall be located in the supply cord within 12 in. (305 mm) of the attachment plug."

Every electric-powered Landa pressure washer meets this standard.

According to OSHA regulation 1910.399 and 1910.303(a), all electrical and other types of equipment used in the workplace must be “listed” by an "approved" testing agency. Failure to comply can result in penalties of up to $7,000 per infraction.

Certification Q&A

Q: Who created the standards used in the pressure washer industry?

A: The UL-1776 standard was created by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) at the request of the Cleaning Equipment Trade Association (CETA). Up to that point there was no specific standard for pressure washers in the United States. In Canada, the B140.1-M89 pressure washer standard was created by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) for the Canadian marketplace. UL and CSA have

Q: Who is allowed to independently certify equipment to the various standards?

A: Any one of the 14 (in the U.S.) Nationally Recognized Testing Laboratory (NRTL) can independently certify pressure washers to the appropriate standard. The major NRTL’s recognized by the Occupational Safety & Health Agency (OSHA) and the Standards Council of Canada

Q: Are there any new pressure washer standards coming in the near future?

A: Yes. The new UL 60335-2-79 safety standard is already in effect, and manufacturers have until March 1, 2021 to make any design changes necessary to comply. UL 60335- 2-79 was harmonized with the IEC 60335 part one and 60335- 2-79 in order to have a single safety standard for pressure washers which is used around the world. This new standard allows more consistency with safety design and testing to ensure our products meet the stringent safety standards used by other nations.

I you have any questions about safety or OSHA compliance in your business call Williams Cleaning Systems at 800-231-3134.

Why it’s smart business to purchase only Safety-Certified Equipment

Why it’s smart business to purchase only
Safety-Certified Equipment