2021 Directory

safety is how to mitigate fluid injection injury risk and what to do if you are unfortunate to suffer such an injury. Some of images shown to trainees can be quite graphic, but I feel it is important to get the message across that these injuries should be avoided at all cost. Advance logistical planning Another point worth emphasising is the importance of knowing in advance which hospitals and medical centres in your area can treat fluid injection injuries. Check the capabilities of your local medical facilities now because not all of them will likely have the means or knowhow to treat a pressure injection injury. Forward planning can save you from wasting time and sustaining a more serious outcome as a result. You only have a small window of time to get treated; that is important to remember. Guidance In addition to the detailed practical and theory-based information available to trainees in the course booklets, I would like to point out the importance of other BFPA publications such as the convenient pocket-sized booklet on Fluid Injection Injury. The booklet is an invaluable guide to people who build, use and maintain equipment containing fluid under pressure. We promote the booklet during our training programmes and speak about many of the themes mentioned within it. For example, we talk about parts of machinery that people on the courses are often very familiar with. Then, the penny drops and they realise they could sustain an injection from trapped pressure in a particular piece of equipment. As you would expect, this generates a lot of interest. This is good, solid knowledge that can help to save serious injury or even lives in extreme cases. In conclusion, the right level and quality of training is critical for people in the fluid power industry to remain legally compliant and safe, whether building, operating or maintaining equipment. This is the reason why BFPA courses will continue to be both invaluable within a wide variety of industry sectors. www.bfpa.co.uk 31