Plant & Works Engineering September 2022 Issue

P ressure washing has become so commonplace that many businesses are not taking nearly enough precautions to protect their operatives or colleagues in the work area. Technology has advanced rapidly, not least because pressure washing is such a useful process: it is used at thousands of industrial sites across the UK every day to clean and degrease machinery, clean floors and decontaminate production vessels. The Water Jetting Association (WJA) is now launching a new pressure washing code of practice to help ensure operational and safety measures are aligned with these advances in capability. The need is urgent. Many operatives do not receive structured training, do not use the right PPE, and are unaware of the hazards they face. Injuries that can be caused during pressure washing have some specific characteristics that can make them particularly dangerous. 4th degree burns Here is a real example. An experienced pressure washing operative was using a steam pressure washer to clear a frozen drain. As he pulled the hose from the pipe, he lost control of it and the water jet cut through his boot, filling it with 1100C water at 207 bar (3,000 psi), travelling at 440 miles per hour. The incident lasted less than three seconds. But the operative suffered 4th degree burns. After emergency surgery, he needed 34 | Plant & Works Engineering www.pwemag.co.uk September 2022 Handling & Safety Matters Focus on: Industrial Cleaning Safety The Water Jetting Association is about to launch a new code of practice for pressure washing. WJA president John Jones explains why it’s urgently needed. Code Purple! Pressure is on to boost cleaning safety