It could be something not working or maybe the operator doesn’t know you have to push the big green button that says “START” to start the machine. I’m a mechanic at a food processing plant.

You wouldn’t suffer any long term effects from the blast at that distance.

As someone who’s slightly on the taller side (5’ 11" 1.8M), I stepped into the shower to make sure the shower head was at least at the top of my head. There were a few that were at about chest level so even with an extended shower head it wouldn’t go over my head and showering would have been always annoying.