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Document ID (ISN)109544
CIS number 09-700
ISSN - Serial title 0007-9952 - Cahiers de notes documentaires - Hygiène et sécurité du travail
Year 2008
Convention or series no. INRS ND 2298-213-08
Author(s) Marchal P., Jacques M.
Title Very high-pressure water jet danger distance
Original title Distance de dangerosité des jets d'eau très haute pression [in French]
Bibliographic information Dec. 2008, No.213, p.15-26. Illus. 8 ref.
Internet access http://www.hst.fr/inrs-pub/inrs01.nsf/IntranetObject-accesParReference/ND%202298/$File/ND2298.pdf [in French]
Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of a very high-pressure jet in relation to its shape, pressure and flow rate. A test bench was designed for this purpose. This involved passing a protected and unprotected, simulated muscle-and-skin sample in front of a VHP water jet at a speed of 0.5m/s. Measurements revealed the high dangerousness of unprotected exposure to straight jets. The danger distance was found to vary between 1.4 and 3.6m, depending on the jet diameter and its pressure/flow rate. This distance was found to be in the 100-400 mm range for flat jets used in cleaning operations. For 2- or 3-nozzle rotary jets, the danger distance was found to be between 200 and 700mm and for orbital jets between 200 and 800mm. Danger distances decreases with protection, but remained significant, depending on the type of jet evaluated. It was 50mm for flat jets, less than 50mm for rotary jets and approximately 200mm for orbital jets. These distances were sufficiently lower and there is a strong possibility of being able to develop fabrics that can be used for making up PPE suitable for protecting the operators. On the other hand, the protected danger distance with straight jets is between 0.15m and 1.1m, which is still too high to consider the possibility of protecting the operators with coated or multi-layer fabrics. These data illustrate the need for PPEs, but also show that these must be adapted to jet parameters. Findings also enable operators and site managers to set up safe working areas based on the jet types used and the minimum distances between two operators working on the same site.
Descriptors (primary) safe distances; high-pressure jet cleaning; equipment testing
Descriptors (secondary) safety engineering; fabrics for protective clothing; tests on models; public OSH institutions
Document type D - Periodical articles
Country / State or ProvinceFrance
Subject(s)
Broad subject area(s) Mechanical hazards, transport
Browse category(ies) Safety devices