Prevention of water jetting injuries

• Published in: Occupational Health & Safety Vol. 76; no. 10; pp. 64 - 66
• Main Author: Yates, W David
• Format: Magazine Article Trade Publication Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 1105 Media, Inc 01.10.2007
• Subjects: Accident prevention; Confined spaces; Construction industry; Environmental Restoration and Remediation - methods; Guidelines; Head injuries; Health hazards; Humans; Industrial equipment; Injuries; Occupational hazards; Occupational Health; Occupational safety; Personal protective equipment; Protective Clothing; United States; Water; Wounds and Injuries - prevention & control; United States; United States > US
• ISSN: 0362-4064; 1938-3851

As with any new or growing industry, specific standards and regulations pertaining to water jetting or water blasting are non-existent, and the industry is left to regulate itself. Fortunately for the water jetting industry, most of the companies providing this service are professionally oriented and strive to take every precaution necessary to protect the interests of employees and clients. The pressures arising from this equipment are powerful enough to cut through steel, so one can imagine what the stream could do to human flesh. Other hazards associated with this industry include those common to the construction industry, such as confined space entry, fall hazards, trip hazards, eye and respiratory hazards, electric shock hazards, and potential chemical exposure. Water jetting or water blasting is a process whereby a stream of pressurized water is aimed at undesirable materials adhering to a substrate, such as the inside of a metal tank or paint on steel, concrete, or other material. The water stream is set at the minimum pressure to remove the unwanted material while at the same time prohibit damage to the substrate material. As with any type of industry, the first step to be taken prior to water blasting is to perform a thorough Job Hazard Analysis (JHA). Safety hazards specific to the water jetting or water blasting industry include noise, heat/cold injuries, slips/trips/falls, confined space entry, lockout/tagout, eye injuries, cuts, head injuries, and water blasting injuries. While volumes can be written on each of these subjects, a brief discussion on each topic is presented.