February 2021

SPECIAL FOCUS Industrial cleaning WATER JETTING TRAINING FOR THE ENGINEERING INDUSTRY info@waterjetting.org.uk +44 (0) 208 320 1090 www.waterjetting.org.uk Contact us for details of WJA-Approved Instructors in your area Water Jetting Association - The Engine House, Veridion Way, Erith, Kent, DA18 4AL, UK JOIN THE WATER JETTING ASSOCIATION Find out about the many benefits of being a WJA member Key Benefits City & Guilds Accredited WJA-Approved Instructors New Recruits & Refresher Written Compliance Test Certificate & Photo ID Card Courses Offered Safety Awareness Pressure Washing Tube & Pipe Cleaning Surface Preparation Hydrodemolition Drain & Sewer Cleaning Level 2 Water Jetting Technician Certificate Level 2 Water Jetting Technician Certificate UK’s first competency qualification for water jetting Accredited by ABBE / Ofqual Qualifies holder for CSCS card 40/60 skills learning and assessment Enhances productivity and safety Supports succession planning and retention New for 2021 own waste to a disposal site, then it can only do so if it is a registered waste carrier. The reusable solution to spills With companies facing increased pressure to attain high standards of health and safety practice as well as improved environmental performance an alternative strategy to disposable paper towels has emerged. Today, full-service contract third-party suppliers are delivering high quality reusable absorbent wipes and mats to customers. Once used, the mats and towels are collected, washed and redistributed for reuse. Able to rapidly soak up large volumes of liquids, these mats and wipes offer a number of key advantages over disposable materials. One such example is Multitex hazardous fluid trapping mats that are made from high- quality cotton and are designed to rapidly transport fluids to the inner fabric, leaving the outside relatively dry, even after absorbing up to three litres of fluid. They can be used in sensitive areas such as around machinery and equipment, reducing the need for sand or absorbent granules that might otherwise be required. Highly absorbent industrial cleaning wipes are also suitable for a variety of needs within the workplace, often having different weaves of cloth for different surfaces and uses. For safe disposal within engineering plants, some providers offer a collection service using safety containers where cloths, wipes and mats can be collected after use. Once full, the container is picked up at a convenient time and replaced with a clean container and all the towels or mats required. Mats and wipes are taken away to be washed in an environmentally- friendly way too with oils from the process cleverly re-used to power the washing process itself. In addition, treatment of wastewater is assured and heat from the washing process is also recovered. The result is a sustainable approach that eliminates the need to manage the purchase, delivery, storage and disposal of single-use materials like blue roll. Reusable mats, cloths and wipes are a cost-effective solution even for small businesses and with fresh absorbent cleaning cloths and mats always available and to hand, spills may be rapidly addressed to reduce the risks of exposure to chemicals and slipping causing injury. With the right supplier the reusable system can also remove the significant burden of hazardous waste disposal while benefitting the environment by reusing primary materials and recovering energy during the washing process. With companies under pressure to improve health and safety and environmental performance, even small changes to a typical maintenance regime in production and engineering facilities can yield considerable benefits. Reusable mats and wipes can help to ensure workers in the heavy manufacturing industry are protected with a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable solution to spills. * Günes Yenen is MEWA UK country manager Sources 1. https://www.hse.gov.uk/Statistics/industry/manufacturing.pdf 2. http://www.icohweb.org/site/images/news/pdf/ Safety%20and%20health%20at%20work%20-%20EU-OSHA%20- %20Work-related%20accidents%20and%20injuries%20cost %20EU%20%E2%82%AC476%20billion%20a%20year%20according %20to%20new%20global%20estimates%20-%202017-09-01.pdf