High Pressure Water Jetting System operations and compliance requirements

What happened?

The continued focus area on high pressure water jetting systems (HPWJS) across the Petroleum and Gas Industry, has identified non-compliances with regulatory obligations to manage water jetting operations. The Petroleum and Gas (Production and Safety) Act 2004 calls up the Abrasive Blasting Code of Practice which in turn mandates compliance with AS/NZS 4233.1 and 4233.2 for Class A and Class B systems.

How did it happen?

A review of incidents involving HPWJS, including a recent serious injury where a worker received a water injection injury, identified on average, a serious injury occurs every year from HPWJS since at least 2019. Proactive measures taken such as Inspections and audits have focused on reviewing systems to safely manage water jetting operations and have identified trends as described in the Key Issues below.

Key issues

Lack of awareness of mandatory compliance with AS/NZS4233.1 and 4233.2
Risk assessment of the equipment and operations to include persons and environments that are not directly concerned with the water jetting operations e.g. noise exposure, run-off
Documented operational pre-start checklist and ongoing maintenance records
Minimum PPE requirements including mandatory eye and face, body and foot protection
All systems shall be ‘fail-to-safe-state’ and incorporate at least two control mechanisms
Work areas must be clearly defined with suitable barriers erected and warning signs displayed
All workers must be trained and deemed competent prior to using a HPWJS with refresher training delivered not exceeding two years to ensure continued competency of operators. Class B operators must be trained by an authorised Registered Training Organisation (RTO)
The reaction force along the jetting gun must be known and within allowable limits or comfortable for the operator to use the jetting gun safely
The length of the gun “barrel” should be such that the nozzle strikes the ground before the operator can inadvertently direct it onto their feet or legs
All hose connections to equipment or to other hoses shall be restrained with appropriate hose restraints, braided stocking or other suitable means to restrict their movement in the event of failure.

Recommendations

Employers must take all reasonable steps to ensure workers are trained and competent in tasks they are directed to undertake and that they are inducted in relation to any specific equipment they are given to use
Employers must provide safe systems of work. Review AS/NZS 4233.1 High pressure water jetting systems and conduct a gap analysis on current systems, implementing additional controls in accordance with the standard to manage this operation safely.

References and further information

Qld Abrasive Blasting Code of Practice 2021
AS/NZS 4233.1 High pressure water jetting systems Part 1: Safe operation and maintenance
AS/NZS 4233.2 High pressure water jetting systems Part 2: Construction and performance

Authorised by Bill Date - chief-inspector-pg

Contact: Donna Jamieson, Senior Inspector , 0467789613 donna.jamieson@rshq.qld.gov.au

Issued by Resources Safety & Health Queensland

Safety: This information is a guide only and is issued to promote safety through experience. It is not to be taken as a statement of law and must not be construed to waive or modify any legal obligation.

Find more safety notices

Search the hazards database

All information on this page (High Pressure Water Jetting System operations and compliance requirements - https://www.rshq.qld.gov.au/safety-and-health-alerts/petroleum-and-gas/high-pressure-water-jetting-system-operations-and-compliance-requirements) is correct as of time of printing (Nov 12, 2026 10:52 pm).