Raising the Bar on Water Jetting Training Standards
Raising the Bar on Water Jetting Training Standards
- Water Jetting Association introduces important new training rules
- All introductory water training must include a practical skills assessment
- Changes aim to “raise the bar” on water jetting training standards
- They are part of the goal to continuously improve water jetting safety
The Water Jetting Association is to introduce a significant modification of its rules that will establish a new standard in water jetting training.
Under new protocols being introduced from 1st January 2020, all introductory water jetting training must include a practical skills assessment.
Currently, water jetting operatives must attend a one-day water jetting Safety Awareness course to be registered on the Water Jetting Association’s (WJA) international operator database.
Under the new rules, they will have to successfully complete the Safety Awareness course, which is class-based, and then at least one relevant one-day ‘hands-on’ application module that teaches practical skills.
This means water jetting operatives will have had a minimum of two days of structured and assessed training, including one day of practical training, before they can register with the WJA and receive their WJA Certificate and Operational Photo ID Card.
The improved training standard, approved by the WJA’s Ruling Council, will apply to all service sectors, including industrial cleaning, maritime de-fouling, drain and sewer jetting, hydrodemolition, and surface preparation.
The WJA is the representative body for the water jetting industry and is the UK’s leading provider of high-pressure water jetting training courses. It is introducing the changes following a period of consultation with members and stakeholders.
John Jones, Vice-President of the WJA and Chairman of its Training and Safety Committee, said: “We aim to continuously improve the safety and effectiveness of water jetting.
“This new approach raises the bar for water jetting training both in the UK and internationally. Most contractors already book their staff on the Safety Awareness course and multiple practical courses to cover the specific skills they need for the water jetting work they do. These changes enshrine this best practice in association rules”.
“We are also aligning the WJA with the highest expectations of companies that use water jetting services. They want to be sure their worksites are as safe as possible. Introducing a mandatory practical application module for new trainees is an essential step to help achieve this.”
All WJA high pressure water jetting training is delivered by WJA-Registered Training Providers and Approved Instructors. Courses are accredited by City & Guilds of London Institute. They can be delivered externally or as part of a company’s in- house training programme.
WJA Director David Kennedy said: “Making practical application training mandatory will help operatives to fully-comprehend the high level of risk associated with water jetting. Until you hold a water jetting lance or hose and feel how it responds under pressure you won’t fully grasp what has been taught in the classroom”.
“By upgrading our training rules in this way, operatives will have a strong foundation upon which employers can continue to build competence through in- work training and supervision. This can only be good for water jetting safety and operational effectiveness.”
Practical application modules available to trainers are: Drain and Sewer Cleaning, Surface Preparation, Tube & Pipe Cleaning and Hydrodemolition.
As is currently the case, operatives will have to continue to sit the Safety Awareness Refresher course every three years to maintain their registration, while practical modules will only have to be completed once. However, the practical module will have to be retaken if the WJA registration lapses.
Registered operatives who have not yet attended a practical module will have to do so, but only on the date they attend their next Safety Awareness Refresher course. People can take the Safety Awareness course on its own and be issued with a Non- Operational WJA Photo ID Card.
The WJA’s training is underpinned by its Codes of Practice – Blue for high pressure and ultra-high-pressure water jetting and Red for use of water jetting in the drains and sewers. These are accepted as setting internationally recognised standards for best practice in water jetting.