HEALTH & SAFETY
“As a rule of thumb, the distance fromthe tip of the nozzle to where the hose connects needs to be approximately one-and-a-half times the size of the pipe diameter you are cleaning. Sizing it in this way can help to prevent the nozzle fromturning around and coming back at you,”he says.
He also advises against “free spooling”a nozzle up the sewer line.
“Any time you free-spool a nozzle up the line, you lose control of the nozzle – and it can ricochet back at you. To prevent this, use a nozzle skid and hold the nozzle back,” says Story.
Tip #9 – Choose the right nozzle for the job to reduce turbulence and wear
As is known throughout the industry, there are several tiers of nozzles, rated for water efficiency fromTier 1 (about 30%efficient), Tier 2 (50-60%efficient), to Tier 3 (75-98%efficient).
What sets themost efficient Tier 3 nozzles apart fromothers in the category is fluidmechanics engineering on a par with the aerodynamics of race cars or jet fighters. In the case of KEG Technologies’Tier 3 nozzles, the high-performance fluidmechanics design leaves little roomfor power losses and excessive turbulence.
nausea, dizziness, and even unconsciousness.
So, Story says that one of the first things that operatorsmust do is open the upstreammanhole as a precaution to enable drawing in clean air. “For safety in sewer pipe, the first thing you always want to do is open your upstreamsewermanhole. That will allow the systemto draw in fresh air. On the other hand, if the air were to be drawn directly fromthe homes, it could fill themwith sewer gas, which is unsafe and unpleasant for homeowners,” says Story.
Tip #6 – To avoid injury, do not start hydro jetting outside a pipe
With hydro jetting, sewer cleaning nozzles are designed to direct water at exceedingly high rates of pressure. For typical cleaning, 1,000-1,500 PSI is normal. To remove a blockage, pressures as high as 5,000 PSImay be reached.
“Sewer cleaning nozzles at extremely high pressures should only be used in a pipe,” cautions Story. “If a nozzle is used outside of a pipe, it can whip around like a fire hose. I have seen sewer nozzles and hose go up and wrap around telephone wires. I have seen nozzles over 60 feet in the air.”
Tip #7 – Use a hose with a robust safety factor to prevent bursting
Since hose and nozzle pressures can be so high, it is important to utilize only robust hose of sufficient strength to ensure safe use over time, according to Story.
“Most operators andmunicipalities overlook the possibility of burst hoses. However, hose is gradually cut going in and out of sewer pipe. The braided nylon weave remains, but every layer that is cut reduces hose strength and the corresponding PSI that can be run,” says Story.
Tip #8 – Properly size the nozzle-to-hose connection to prevent nozzle“ricochet”
If the nozzle-to-hose connection is not sized properly, it can lead to a dangerous, high-pressure“ricochet,”where the nozzle and hose can suddenly turn around and come back at the operator.
One way to prevent nozzle“ricochet” is to size the nozzle-to-hose connection properly, according to Story.
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Bymore effectively containing, controlling, and directing high- pressure water with less turbulence, a Tier 3 nozzle can deliver more cleaning power at lower PSI. This eliminates the need for operators to compensate for the lack of power fromTier 1 or 2 nozzles by increasing the pressure to higher PSI on the way back through the line. Ultimately, less PSI (with a better, faster result) makes for safer sewer cleaning, as outlined inmany of the tips above.
Tip #10 – Slow and steady wins the race – and is safer for operators
The number onemistake ofmost sewer cleaning operators that puts themat risk is rushing through the process, according to Story.
“Most operators run their nozzles way too fast. Rushing to clean more footage of sewer pipe is dangerous. To clean safely, keep the nozzle slow and steady and let it do its job,” says Story.
To stay safe and productive, Story advises contractors to never outrun their water, or they risk losing control of the process and will eventually run into a blockage.
“Sooner or later operators will run into a blockage of roots, grease, mineral deposits, or cave-ins that will plug up their front jets. Then they no longer have a penetrating tool but a battering ram– a nozzle with no forward jets trying to feed its way through the blockage,” says Story.
He advises, “For greater operator safety, slow down evenmore to remove a blockage and let the nozzle do the work. The reason we put forward jets on the nozzles is to safely open the blockage before the nozzle arrives. Slow down and the water will open the blockage before the nozzle ever gets there.”
While there ismuchmore to the practice of sewer cleaning, following these 10 tips will go a long way toward keeping operators safe and productive on the job formany years to come. Those seeking amore comprehensive understanding of best-in- industry safety practices can train in person or virtually with KEG Technologies in the timeframemost suitable for them.
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