The Recall Desk
CriticalCPSC·84045·Announced 1984-07-09

Britt Tech Electric Pressure Washers Recalled for Electric Shock Hazard

Britt Tech is offering free safety kits for approximately 136,000 electric pressure washers to reduce the risk of electric shock. The recall follows six reported deaths related to the use of these machines.

What this means for you

Highest-severity recall. Risk of serious injury or death is documented or strongly suspected. Stop using the product now and follow the agency's instructions.

Our severity reasoning: The source text explicitly states that the Commission and the company are aware of 6 deaths from electric shock, which meets the rubric criterion for a score of 5 (Critical) due to known fatalities.

Plain-English summary

Britt Tech Corporation is conducting a voluntary program to provide free safety kits for approximately 136,000 consumer and farm-use electric pressure washers manufactured prior to mid-1983. The safety kits are designed to electrically isolate the pressure washer's handle to prevent serious electric shock. Britt Tech and its private labelers will also voluntarily extend this program to cover commercial series units produced prior to February 1984.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Britt Tech are aware of six deaths from electric shock related to the use of these pressure washers. A severe or fatal electric shock can occur if a user contacts the handle when the machine is ungrounded and a second fault occurs, such as wet power cord connections, an improper extension cord, or an internal electrical fault.

Affected units were distributed nationally under the "Liquid Brush" trade name and various private label names, including Amity, Atlas, Chardon Lab's Power Edge, Continental Oil's Dynalife, Craft Toot and Machine, Earl Grissmer's Blue Lustre Dirt Buster, Gulf's Cruisemaster, Jacobsen, Kleen King, Mid-State's Dura-Wash, Phillips Petroleun, Speed Spray, and U.S. Chemical Z-4 Cleanomat. Consumers with machines sold by Ford Tractor, John Deere, Massey Ferguson, or White Farm should contact their local dealer. Others may write to Britt Tech Corporation, Department R, P.O. Box 216, Britt, Iowa 50423, to obtain the free safety component kit and instructions.

The recalled product

Product
Amity , U.S. Chemical Z-4 Cleanomat electric pressure washers
Manufacturer
Ford

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.