Safe Operating Procedures for Pressure Washers

Purpose

To define the safe operating procedures in a manner that informs and instructs employees of [Employer/Organization Name]of the key health and safety hazards and controls to remember when using the pressure washer.

Hazards

The following hazards may occur when using the pressure washer:

  • Cuts and abrasions from high pressure water
  • Eye injury
  • Musculoskeletal disorder
  • Electric shock

Personal Protective Equipment

  • Slip resistant safety footwear
  • Eye protection
  • Leather or rubber gloves

Safe Operating Procedure

  • Complete a pre-use inspection. If any defects are noted, the equipment must be removed from service and the supervisor must be notified immediately to ensure equipment is repaired.
  • Operators must have read and understood the operator’s manual.
  • Ensure operator’s manual for equipment is available to operators.
  • Ensure guards and shields are firmly in place and in good condition. Do not operate the equipment without appropriate guards, shields, plates and other safety protective devices in place.
  • Ensure safety decals are legible, order replacements if they are not.
  • Ensure the equipment is used properly as per manufacturer’s directions.
  • Complete a walkaround of the immediate work area prior to starting. Look for obstacles that may need to be removed.
  • Keep all bystanders away from the equipment during operation.
  • Do not direct high pressure spray at people, animals, electrical devices or the pressure washer.
  • Learn how to stop the equipment and release pressure quickly. Be thoroughly familiar with the controls.
  • Do not use acids, solvents, or any other flammable material in the pressure washer. These products can cause physical injuries to the operator and irreversible damage to the equipment.
  • Do not stand on unstable surfaces.
  • To reduce the risk of electrocution, keep all connections dry and off the ground. Where possible ensure unit is properly grounded with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).
  • Do not touch plug with wet hands.
  • The Gun Safety Lock prevents the trigger from accidentally being engaged. This safety feature does not lock the trigger in the on position.
  • Only cleaning detergent supplied or recommended by the manufacturer will be used with the pressure washer. If cleaning detergent is to be used, read and understand the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) for the cleaning detergent prior to use.
  • Repairs to the equipment must be performed by qualified personnel, using original equipment manufacturer (OEM)parts or equivalent.

Water Supply (Cold Water Only)

  • Water hose must be at least 3/4 inch in diameter.
  • Flow rate of water supply must not fall below 2.5 gallons per minute.
  • Flow rate can be determined by running the water for one minute into an empty 5-gallon container.
  • The water supply temperature must not exceed 40ºC.
  • Never use the pressure washer to draw in water contaminated with solvents, (e.g. paint thinners, gasoline, oil, etc).
  • Always prevent debris from being drawn into the unit by using a clean water source.

Additional Resources

SOP for Fuelling

Document Management

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