Heavy machinery, such as hydraulic presses or forklifts, can exert thousands of pounds of pressure in an instant.
As an action, designate a 15-foot radius sphere within your line of sight. The air in this zone instantly pressurizes to lethal levels. All creatures within the area must make a Constitution saving throw.
What pressure can a human survive? With specialized equipment and breathing gas mixtures (helium-oxygen), humans have lived for weeks at (300 psi) in saturation chambers. However, without a breathing apparatus that matches ambient pressure, the lethal limit for dry pressure is approximately 3-4 atm . lethal pressure crush
Forensic oceanographers have a grim phrase for this: "Instantaneous homogeneous compaction."
In extreme cases of "crowd crush," the collective weight of a moving mass of people can create enough horizontal pressure to cause traumatic asphyxia among those at the front. 4. Prevention and Survival Heavy machinery, such as hydraulic presses or forklifts,
Understanding how these forces work, why they are lethal, and where the risks are highest is essential for safety professionals and curious minds alike. 1. The Physics of the Crush
The danger lies in differential pressure . When the external environment exerts just sea-level pressure (around 45 psi), the human body ceases to function as an open system. The lungs, filled with air at 1 atm, cannot expand against a 3 atm environment. The diaphragm cannot draw breath. This is atmospheric crush . All creatures within the area must make a
If the hull fails: