[Accidents with high-pressure cleansing devices--a new mechanism of injury].

Air and water powered tools are employed increasingly in industry and involve new possibilities for occupational casualties. A new mechanism of trauma is described where the cause of death was an injury to the head, similar to a firearm wound. The "missile" was the water beam from the victim's own high pressure cleansing device, which was able to produce water pressure up to 900 atmospheres resulting in high water velocity of 300 meters/second. As prophylaxis, new legislations, as a result of understandings between employers and employees in the member states of the Common Market, are under preparation at present.