Consumer Agency Warns of Injury Risk from High-Pressure Air Blowers Used to Remove Dust

Types of Air Blowers

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Chun-han] It has been found that the air blowers installed at dust removal facilities commonly seen on hiking trails and walking paths have excessively high pressure, posing a risk of injury.

On the 25th, the Korea Consumer Agency announced the results of a safety inspection conducted from October to November last year on 84 air blowers at 30 dust removal facilities in Seoul and Gyeonggi areas.

Among the 64 air blowers in the form of air guns, 50 equipped with straw-type nozzles showed air pressure ranging from 53 to 100 psi (pounds per square inch) during air discharge. This exceeds the related standard (approximately 30 psi) set by the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency's "Technical Guidelines for the Safe Use of Compressed Air."

Unlike blower guns with wide internal diameter nozzles or star-shaped nozzles with multiple air discharge holes, the straw-type nozzle air guns discharge compressed air through a single narrow hole, resulting in high pressure that can cause injuries to the eyes, ears, and other areas. The Consumer Agency pointed out, "If children use these without guardians, the risk of safety accidents is high, so facility improvements are urgently needed."

Among the 30 facilities surveyed, 2 had no posted notices, and 7 lacked or had insufficient warnings advising caution when children use the devices or urging accompanying guardians to supervise. In 21 locations, air blowers were installed at heights below 1 meter from the ground, making them easily reachable by infants or children.

According to a survey of 100 users of dust removal facilities conducted by the Consumer Agency, 5 respondents admitted to spraying air on their own crown or face to cool down sweat. Additionally, 4 respondents said they sprayed air on others' faces, which posed a risk of safety accidents.

Based on these findings, the Consumer Agency plans to request the Ministry of the Interior and Safety and local governments to adjust the pressure of air blowers and improve the installation status of notices at each facility.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.