Water Jetting Pressure Washer Safety Training
Pressure washing equipment may appear straightforward to operate but at pressures up to 207 bar (3,000 psi), an injury can be as serious. This WJA-accredited course covers the WJA Purple Code of Practice, hazard identification, equipment checks, nozzle selection, the safe use of heat and chemicals, PPE and RPE, and the duties and responsibilities of everyone involved in a pressure washing operation. On successful completion, delegates receive a WJA card.
• Introduction to surface preparation
What pressure washing is used for, the range of surfaces and applications it covers - including surface cleaning, tube and pipe cleaning, and drain and sewer cleaning- and why even lower-pressure equipment requires formal training.
• WJA Purple Code of Practice
The WJA Purple Code of Practice for pressure washing, the best practice it contains and how it is used as a reference throughout the operation. Each delegate receives a personal copy.
• Pressure washer systems and pumps
The types of pressure washer system available, how pressure washer pumps operate, the role of electrical power in system operation and the safety devices that must be in place before work begins.
• The jet: velocities, nozzles and hoses
How the pressure jet is generated, jet velocity and its relationship to surface cleaning effectiveness and injury risk, nozzle types and selection for different tasks, and the inspection and selection of hoses in line with certification requirements.
• Safe use of heat and chemicals
The additional hazards introduced by the use of heat and chemicals in pressure washing operations, and the controls required to manage them safely alongside the jetting hazards already present.
• Accidents and injuries
A review of accidents in the pressure washing industry, the injuries caused by high-pressure water jet strikes and pressurised system failure, and the actions specified in the Purple Code of Practice to prevent them.
• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and PPE/RPE
The legal duties of employers and operatives under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the personal protective equipment and respiratory protective equipment required for pressure washing operations.
• Team duties and responsibilities
The duties and responsibilities of all team members during a pressure washing operation, what constitutes a competent team and the procedures required to prepare and secure the working area before and after the task.
• Assessment
Theory assessment in a classroom environment and practical assessment using live pressure washing equipment at pressures not exceeding 207 bar (3,000 psi) and flow of 22 litres per minute (5 igpm).
Classroom theory combined with practical assessment using live pressure washing equipment. Theory sessions cover system operation, hazard identification and legal requirements. Practical assessment covers surface preparation and safe job completion.
Operational candidates new to pressure washing, water jetting candidates renewing an expiring WJA card, and managers, supervisors, site owners, permit issuers and health and safety officers responsible for managing or designing cleaning tasks using pressure washing equipment.
Delegates must be at least 16 years old and employed or in a structured training programme. Delegates must be at least 18 years old if unemployed or not in structured training. Delegates must be able to understand spoken and written English.