Pressure on for safe cleaning
The Water Jetting Association is about the launch a new code of practice for pressure washing, an essential cleaning process in many environments. Its President, John Jones, explains why it’s urgently needed.
An experienced operative uses a steam pressure washer to clear a frozen roadside culvert. As he pulls the hose from the pipe, he loses control of it and the water jet cut through his boot, filling it with 110°C water at 3000psi, travelling at over 300 miles per hour.
This real incident lasted less than three seconds, but the operative suffered fourth-degree burns. Skin and tissue were torn from the bone. After emergency surgery, he needed many other operations as continuing efforts were made to rebuild his foot.
Code of practice
This incident represents just one of many. In another, a dockyard operative slipped due to the unexpected power of a water jet, allowing the nozzle to swipe across his supervisor, lacerating his upper thigh.
A big problem is that pressure washing has become so commonplace. People who operate pressure washers at home in shorts and flip flops to clean cars and drives do not appreciate the risks they are taking when pressures can reach 2500psi (170 bar).
The Water Jetting Association (WJA) is taking steps to address this. We are creating a new pressure washing code of practice. It lays out, in plain terms, steps that need to be taken to optimise the safe use of low-pressure water jetting equipment.
Urgent need
We believe there is an urgent need to set clear standards for pressure washing, not least because it has become essential thanks to rapid technical advances and the proliferation of its use.
Pressure washing is used to clean vehicles, remove graffiti, blast chewing gum from town centre pedestrian areas and airport concourses, and clean mud from roads – all tasks too costly to be carried out by other means.
However, without a clear operational framework that a code of practice provides, there is opportunity for operatives to improvise and develop unsafe and suboptimal practices.
Safety and productivity
The WJA is the UK’s trade body for the water jetting industry. Our focus, since we were established in 1980, has been on promoting the safe use of high pressure and ultra- high pressure water jetting, with water pressures ranging up to 40,000 psi (2750 bar).
36 | TRAINING AND EDUCATION
We have two codes of practice for systems operating at these pressures – the Blue Code for high pressure and ultra-high pressure water jetting, and the Red Code for water jetting used for drain and sewer cleaning. The new pressure washing code will now support safe and productive water jetting at lower pressures.
Pressure washing training
The code of practice has sections on site and equipment set-up, and the different types of pressure washing pumps and equipment. This includes hot water systems which, as we have seen, introduce additional risks. Also covered is equipment operation, managing the pressure washing team, equipment checks and maintenance. There is detailed advice on risk assessment and a pre-start checklist, as well.
A key element is effective training. The WJA is the UK’s main provider of water jetting training. This includes a City & Guilds-accredited pressure washing course delivered by WJA-approved training providers and instructors. Lasting at least five hours, it is designed to teach class-based and practical skills for safe and productive pressure washing.
Vital role of PPE
Use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is a key section in the new code. Those flip flops and Bermuda shorts just won’t cut it. Essential items include waterproof and slip- resistant gloves and waterproof suits.
Operatives should wear steel toecap rubber safety boots that meet EN 345 or EN ISO 20345. Ear protection should be provided where sound levels exceed 80 decibels. A full- face visor – preferably EN166 class A – is essential. This may need to be augmented with gas and fine dust-resistant googles to EN166 class 5.
In all cases, activities must be properly assessed for specific risks, and the appropriate PPE selected.
Water jetting injuries
As with our other two codes, safety is at the heart of the pressure washing code of practice. Water jetting creates unique risks that must be addressed.
There are three main ways water jetting systems cause serious injury or death: being struck by an uncontrolled hose or jetting nozzle; suffering a laceration that causes a massive bleed; or a fluid injection injury, caused by the water jet puncturing the skin and entering underlying tissue.
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