Employers under pressure to provide correct training
August 1st 2011

It is a basic requirement under Health & Safety Law that employers ensure that employees are adequately trained in the safe use of all equipment.

However, not all employers appreciate the possible hazards of power washers.This is said to be partly due to the fact that they are readily available in most D.I.Y stores.

At 1000 p.s.i the water jet can reach a speed of 110 m.p.h and at 4000 p.s.i it travels at 440 m.p.h (half the speed of a bullet).

Harnessed correctly and using the correct pressure rated tools and accessories the speed of this jet of water can be used to accomplish many cleaning and cutting tasks.As water is incompressible,water travelling out of the lance at these speeds can carry a risk of serious injury.According to the Water Jetting Association (WJA), skin can be punctured with a water jet as low as 500 p.s.i.

The Health and Safety at Work Act lays responsibility upon employers to ensure that their undertakings are, so far as reasonable and practicably, safe and without risk to health. Further more the Act demands that employers only provide equipment that is safe and well maintained.

Jetmasters recognises the need for appropriate training and has been producing and delivering training courses aimed at all aspects of high pressure water jetting for over thirty years.The company is a recognised and approved training provider for the Water Jetting Association. All candidates that attend Jetmaster's courses and pass the required standards receive WJA certification and photo I.D cards.

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