Hydroblasting & Sandblasting Safety

Cogbill Safety Tuesday December 1st, 2020

Blasting is a common cleaning process in the industrial workplace. In hydroblasting, pressurized water is expelled from a nozzle at high velocity, that when it strikes the surface to be cleaned it removes debris and achieves the cleaning effect. Sandblasting is a similar process, except sand is expelled at high velocity using pressurized air, hitting the surfaced to be cleaned and, similarly, removing unwanted debris. As such, blasting can be a hazardous task to perform.

Expelled material move at such a high velocity that can slice through body tissue and bone. If mishandled, serious injury or even fatalities can occur. To maintain the safety of all involved, please keep the following in mind while operating a blasting device:

• Only trained personnel may operate the basting machine.

• Operators must wear proper PPE (ex: face shield, rubber boots with steel toe guards, hard hat, hearing protection, gloves).

• The work area must be barricade before blasting, to prevent others from walking in and being exposed to serious injuries.

• The gun should never be engaged prior to starting the unit.

• All components of the system must be inspected prior to use.

• Only sediment-free water can be used.

• The gun may not be aimed at people or unsecured objects.

• If a system error occurs, the system must be repaired and then thoroughly inspected prior to further use.

• If injury occurs, seek medical attention immediately.