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WJA celebrates 40th birthday with invite to join the party


TheWater Jetting Association is 40 years old inOctober 2020 – marking amilestone in a journey that has seen itwork closelywith contractors andmanufacturers help drive up safety and operational performance across the drainage industry.


TheWJA, the UK’s trade association for thewater jetting industry,was founded by a group of 21 contractors at ameeting at theMetropole Hotel at BirminghamAirport on 9th October 1980.


Since then, it has gone on to build an international reputation for promotingwater jetting standards, not least through the development of its two codes of practice, one of themthe ‘Red Code’ for safe working and use ofwater jetting in drains and sewers.


WJA Director David Kennedy said: “TheWJAwas founded specifically to promote safety across thewater jetting industry and that purpose is still central to ourmission today.


“Over the last four decades, ourmembers – contractors, equipment suppliers and trainers, plusmany others – have played vital roles in improving safety and promoting change for the better in the drainage industry, andwe’d invite others to join us in this valuablework.”


TheWJAwas first called the Association of High PressureWater Jetting Contractors. The change to theWJA came later, to clarifywhat had always been the case, that the associationwas a broad church,where all expertise and opinionwas considered, said Kennedy.


The associationwas set upwith the encouragement of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). In the 1970s, itwanted consistent safety standards to be developed across a fast-growingwater jetting industry.


Nowthe HSE uses theWJA’s codes of practice as a clear reference as to what is correctwater jetting practice. The codes are respected because theWJA has continuously updated them, so they remain relevant to the industries they cover.


TheWJA is also the biggest provider ofwater jetting training to the drainage industry. This is beneficial to both drainage contractors and operatives, saysWJA-approvedwater jetting instructorMike Pirrie, a member of the association’s training and safety committee.


54 drain TRADER | October 2020 | www.draintraderltd.com


“WJA courses give contractors a firmbenchmark uponwhich they can develop their in-house training and skills development, and give operatives a recognised qualification, accredited by City & Guilds.


“Aswith safety,WJA training is continuously reviewed and updated. Since 2019,we’ve required trainees to complete theWJA Safety Awareness course and at least one practicalmodule consistentwith theirwork, such as Drain and Sewer Cleaning, Surface Preparation, Tube and Pipe Cleaning or Hydro-Demolition, before they get their water jetting card.


“Thismakes sense because practical, hands-on experience under controlled conditionswhere good practice can be demonstrated and practiced is invaluable. I’mpleased to say that contractors have embraced this approach and see itsworth.”


TheWJA has also played a critical role in providing a forumfor discussing and findingways through challenging technical issues in the drainage industry, including the practice of re-ending jetting hoses, saidMike Pirrie.


“This ensures technical solutions can come fromwithin the industry andwe canmove forward together. This consistency is also supported with themany technical and training aides theWJA continues to develop, including advice sheets and educational videos.”


In 2019, theWJA also issued newWater Jetting InjuryManagement Guidelines, based on research it commissioned froma teamof eminent NHS trauma physicians.


The research findings have been published in the European Journal of Trauma and Emergency Surgery, so the good practice can be shared withmedical specialists throughout theworld.


For the first time, the guidelines include an algorithmfor effective injury response, fromgiving first aid to hospital treatment,which promises to save lives and reduce the long-termimpact of injury.


David Kennedy said: “TheWJA remains as relevant as ever, not least in the drainage andwater utilities industries. Technical innovations, such aswater recycling,more powerful pumps and jetting head design, present newchallenges all the time.”


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