More hands-on refresher training and digital technology are among improvements being made to water jetting courses to help contractors enhance the quality and safety of services they deliver.
The Water Jetting Association, the UK trade association for the water jetting industry, is strengthening its mandatory refresher training by introducing a significant new element of practical tuition.
It is upgrading the way delegates attending the City & Guilds accredited courses are examined, with digital click pads that make learning more engaging and testing more rigorous.
The WJA is also introducing a new workbook for its safety awareness course that improves engagement and provides delegates with a reference guide. WJA Training and Safety Committee Chairman Darren Hamilton said: “We’re always looking to improve our training.
These changes reflect the vision of our committee has to improve outcomes for operatives, contractors and their customers. “By upgrading our courses, making them as up-to-date as possible, with the most relevant content and learning techniques, we will improve the quality and safety of water jetting, which is our ultimate aim.”
The WJA is the largest provider of water jetting training for surface preparation, hydrodemolition, drain and sewer cleaning, pipe cleaning and pressure washing. Courses are also delivered around the world, notably in the Middle East.
To obtain their WJA cards and certificates, operatives must pass the class-based one-day WJA Safety Awareness course and one of four practical modules, with refresher training undertaken every three years.
Darren Hamilton said: “The new refresher process allows us to check that operatives are using the correct water jetting techniques and their skills are developing as we’d expect. We’ll also include regulation updates and technical changes introduced by the WJA.”
The WJA is also introducing a new pressure washing code of practice, the first of its kind in the UK, to allow contractors and service users to benchmark safe and effective operational standards.
