Debbie Mitchell, NAHAD
This whitepaper represents an ongoing effort to document best practices for ensuring safety and reliability of hydroblast hose assembly applications (5,000–55,000 psi). It is intended to represent the consensus of contributing companies and organizations (hydroblasting contractors and hose and equipment manufacturers and distributors) as to the recommended best practices in the design, fabrication and ongoing maintenance of hose assemblies used in hydroblasting applications.
The industrial cleaning industry operates some of the highest pressure equipment, in what are often the most diverse and time-critical applications. Hydroblasting has the potential to be a high-risk craft if not managed properly. High-pressure hydroblast hoses are one of the most critical components of hydroblast operations. Hose reliability and safety directly affect a provider’s ability to deliver safe, productive service. Following practices that increase reliability and safe performance of these components is essential for the continued health and vitality of the business:
- Top-line impact. Clients are attracted to vendors that can provide service in the most safe and cost-efficient manner. Providers who can demonstrate processes and strategies that ensure the highest standards of safety and hose integrity will gain more business opportunities and consequently grow their top-line revenue.
- Bottom-line impact. Injuries and downtime due to hose failures lead to costly direct and indirect expenses, which will erode any top-line revenue gains. Safer hoses with higher integrity protect profits.
- Human cost. Employees who work for companies with strong hose management programs enjoy higher confidence in their equipment, leading to higher morale and productivity. A hydroblast injection injury is a recordable injury under OSHA and carries significant treatment costs and lost or restricted workdays.
Hydroblasting services have grown over the past 25 years. Hose management policy and procedures vary across service providers:
- Lack of a comprehensive hose management policy, including marking, inspection and testing, can put lives at risk.
- Customers have elevated their expectations and now require proof of a hose management policy in order to perform work in their facilities.
- Operational consistency across hydroblast companies, their sites and divisions is required, but few programs offer a complete hose life cycle solution; therefore, service providers’ costs vary greatly.
- No common industry standards exist for the hydroblasting hose relating to inspection, testing, service life or common definitions of terms.
Hydroblast hoses have typically been managed as a consumable item. They are run until failure or significant hose degradation and then discarded and replaced. Hose life guidelines either do not exist or are not widely known or published. Visual inspection and periodic testing varies between end user companies, distributors and manufacturers. Many manufacturer recommendations are vague. Standards should be written that give clear instruction to workers on proper use, inspection and handling of hydroblast hoses.
Workers and non-expert observers should easily be able to identify hydroblast hose characteristics on the jobsite. Hydroblast end users should understand and follow established guidelines and written recommendations regarding hydroblast hose use and inspection. End user companies should ensure employees working with hydroblast hose are trained and competent in these recommendations. Overall, hoses should be managed as an individual asset from fabrication of hose until end of useful life. The recommended service life of hydroblast hose is dependent on the care it receives, the application it is being used in and a thorough inspection program. Guidance for these areas is provided in this whitepaper.
This whitepaper is a first step toward documenting best practices for the hose and accessory industry. It should be used in conjunction with WJTA-IMCA Recommended Practices for the Use of High Pressure Water Jetting Equipment.
Safety processes increase costs, but for these applications they are critical.
For more information, contact Debbie Mitchell at dmitchell@nahad.org or (410) 940-6361. To download the full white paper, visit www.nahad.org/aws/NAHAD/pt/sp/memservices_hsi.
