The Water Jetting Association has extended certification for its safety awareness training course until the end of March 2021 to assist contractors during the COVID-19 pandemic.
High pressure water jetting contractors and users that want to take advantage of the extension must notify the Water Jetting Association (WJA) through their approved training provider.
The WJA requires all water jetting operatives to take its City & Guilds accredited safety awareness course every three years to refresh skills and maintain standards.
WJA Director David Kennedy said: “We’ve put in place procedures to allow all our water jetting training courses to take place in COVID-19 secure environments during the pandemic.
“However, we recognised that training programmes have been disrupted, so we’re extending the expiry date for all certificates and WJA ID cards until 31st March 2021.
“Companies and operatives that want to make use of the facility must arrange for a WJA training provider to complete an extension form on their behalf. This will be used to update our international database.”
A water jetting operative can only achieve full WJA certification if they pass the safety awareness course and at least one practical module.
David Kennedy said: “The WJA is reminding members that they have a duty of care to operatives who are not fully qualified or not deemed to be experienced.
“The WJA’s Codes of Practice require that at least 50% of all operatives involved in a water jetting project must be competent. For example, if two operatives are involved, one must be competent. If three are involved, two must be competent.”
The WJA is the professional association for the UK’s water jetting industry and celebrated its 40th anniversary in October 2020. It has just launched two new courses: Competent Water Jetting and Water Jetting Leadership and Management.
www.waterjetting.org.uk | 0206 320 1090
info@waterjetting.org.uk