Pressure Washer Blamed in Death

Using a gasoline-powered pressure washer in a poorly ventilated area below deck in a fishing boat has killed one dock worker and injured several others, including emergency personnel.

Jose Baptista died from carbon monoxide poisoning. Two other workers taken to hospital survived, as did five paramedics, one police officer and a firefighter. The incident occurred in New Bedford, MA. The 38-year-old victim was married with two children.

The New Bedford fire department measured a carbon monoxide level higher than 1,000 parts per million -more than 28 times higher than the maximum allowable outdoor level of 35 ppm during one hour. There is no permitted indoor exposure level.

According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) there are about 500 estimated unintentional carbon monoxide deaths across the US every year – plus about 2,000 intentional deaths (suicides).