COMPLIANCE & RISK ASSESSMENT THREE BECOMES ONE


A new unified code of practice marks the biggest step forward in standardisation in the water jetting in decades. Lee O’Callaghan, Chairman of the industry’s trade body explains why.


Given the supersonic speeds reached during water jetting every day in Britain, the term ‘jetting’ could not be more fitting.


Ultra-high pressure (UHP) water jets leave nozzles at speeds greater than the fastest RAF jet. There may be no sonic boom. But the force unleashed easily demolishes solid concrete.


It is what UHP water jetting is used for on critical structures like bridges, road carriageways and building foundations – demonstrating the innovation and vital importance of the UK’s water jetting industry. Now we’re excited to say our industry has a new single code of practice.


It defines best practice, in terms of safety, sustainability and operational efficiency, for all types of water jetting, from pressure washing to hydrodemolition.


The single code brings together standards previously defined in three WJA codes of practice. The change is, arguably, the most significant development in technical guidance for water jetting in years.


We hope it will lead to many more contractors, delivering all types of water jetting, using the new code of practice to define their safe systems of work and develop of their RAMS.


Water jetting is ubiquitous. It is used to clean cars and pavements, unblock sewers, maintain pipes and process vessels in petrochemical plants, and remove concrete from highway bridges.


Water jetting pressures range from up to 275 bar (4,000 psi) for pressure washing to UHP water jetting at pressures over 1,700 bar (24,600 psi), with high pressure water jetting in between. At all levels, water jetting presents significant and unique risks.


It is why, over 30 years, the association developed three highly-respected codes of practice, each known by the colour of its cover.


The Blue Code for high and ultra-high pressure water jetting was the first, followed by the Red Code for water jetting in sewers and drains. The Purple Code for pressure washers was launched in 2024.


The unified Code of Practice has a black cover, so is likely to be known as the WJA Black Code: some habits don’t change. What has changed, though, is the ease with which the new code can be used.


All the relevant guidance and topics from the three codes has been retained, but in a simpler, more accessible format. They include:


• Organisation and duties of water jetting teams. • Personal protective equipment (PPE). • Types of water jetting units. • Hose assemblies: inspection and testing. • Frost precautions. • And safe use of equipment.


More guidance has also been added, with connections between different pressures and types of water jetting made clearer than ever before.


This should help contractors develop their service offer safely and effectively. Consulting one code, not three, will be so much easier.


In its digital format, via the WJA App, the code is also easier to search than ever before, so water jetting teams can rapidly find the guidance they need.


We hope these significant ease-of-use advances mean the WJA Black Code will come to be used as a daily reference guide on worksites across the UK.


Given that we work closely with the Health and Safety Executive, and it recognises our standards as defining industry best practice when carrying out investigations, this is significant.


We also hope the many advantages of the unified code of practice will encourage more procurement teams to specify adherence to it in their contract terms.


The new WJA Black Code will underpin the WJA’s City & Guilds water jetting training programme, the most extensive in the UK, with more than 22,000 operatives trained every year.


This vital connection has been strengthened with more information added about training. The single code also includes, for the first time, a page-by-page version of the WJA’s water jetting injury treatment algorithm.


Every operative who attends and passes our courses will be given access to the new code of practice, via the WJA App.


WJA members will also have free access, along with a range of other significant benefits. There has never been a single better moment for companies that carry out water jetting to join the WJA.


www.waterjetting.org.uk 28 WWW.TOMORROWSHS.COM


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