Pro-Smart

  • Posts: 134
Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« on: November 18, 2013, 11:10:07 pm »
I've been doing residential/domestic pressure washing for several months now in addition to w/cleaning round. I've got a commercial job coming up and want to prepare a professional risk assessment and method statement.

Has anyone got a good template that I could customise?   ???

Cheers....

Rob_Mac

Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #1 on: November 19, 2013, 09:55:29 pm »
The polite approach may be something like this -

Good evening, experienced pressure washing fellows, I wonder if you could help me out?

My name is....................................................
My company is...............................................
My website is.................................................

Rather than the lump hammer approach, Just my opinion!

Rob ;D

Pro-Smart

  • Posts: 134
Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #2 on: November 19, 2013, 10:55:25 pm »
The polite approach may be something like this -

Good evening, experienced pressure washing fellows, I wonder if you could help me out?

My name is....................................................
My company is...............................................
My website is.................................................

Rather than the lump hammer approach, Just my opinion!

Rob ;D

Hi Rob,

Sorry if I've offended - I had loads of stuff to do last night and was wondering whether I'd ever get up to bed, hence the 'straight-to-the-point' request!

My website icon is on my post - I'm based near Evesham in Worcs.

I think it's essential to provide a professional RA & MS for every job, but I'm sure without having to re-invent the wheel, there must be some p/washing veterans on the forum that have been through this before...?

Would you happen to know of any sites that have doc templates for p/washing RA's & MS's?

Many thanks,

Kev

Rob_Mac

Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #3 on: November 20, 2013, 09:13:41 am »
Kev

Not offended in the slightest. We are a different type down here and probably more closed shop than the window cleaning section.

I think it is true to say that we like to know who we are dealing with and for obvious reasons, direct competition, particularly at a residential level, one of your competitors, in your area might not want to share their paperwork.

I tried to see what Pro Clean were about last night and the link didn't work but seems to be working fine now.

I like the website, nice and crisp, good photos.

On one of your photos I see what looks like a pressure washer poking it's nose out, if it is what you use and you have achieved decent results, fair play but a step into commercial may require something more substantial.

Is it your machine?

My RAMS may be a little detailed for you but for the method statement I walk myself around the works asking,

What needs to be done,
what do I need to do to get the works done
How long will it take
What will be the impact of my works
Do I need barriers
Will it be a live environment
Is there anything I am missing, unforeseen etc (the hardest thing to account for but the one that will trip you up)

The risk assessment can be virtually fixed, apart from slight tweeks on the subtle differences on each job, if you do it properly.

The Method statement can be done so that you have working on cladding, block paving, roof, concrete, Tarmacadam and these ways of working copied and pasted, again with the tweeks to suit the works.

Always make sure you date, address where the works will be, the contact, any purchase order number, letterhead, again fixed apart from the details

Get into a routine of always working the same way, so on my method statements (MS) I can describe the set up from van to safe working area (SWA), a barriered area that encompasses all works, including hoses, vans, MEWP and it remains the same, so the risks on this part remain the same, only changed by what we are cleaning.

You wont get many people offering you a template, we are all at different stages, there may be some online.

Mine is continually changing and what I had last week has been superseded by what I am producing for some works at a store in Leicester now.

There have been some significant changes, develop it, fine tune it.

For instance I have now included conformity certificates for the new harnesses bought, these show that the harnesses being used are new, dated and in good order.

We have to include filling up with red diesel because if there is a spillage and it goes into a watercourse what is the procedure to contain & report, where this is done, how it is done and lots of other points. On my works diesel is a chemical used and has to have a MSDS (material safety data sheet).

At a commercial level your RAMS are as important as the works, the client wants to know that all the angles are covered and it isn't going to come back on them, if it goes wrong.

Rob ;D

 

chris scott

  • Posts: 3414
Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #4 on: November 20, 2013, 10:14:03 am »
I've been doing residential/domestic pressure washing for several months now in addition to w/cleaning round. I've got a commercial job coming up and want to prepare a professional risk assessment and method statement.

Has anyone got a good template that I could customise?   ???

Cheers....

http://www.healthandsafetyworksni.gov.uk/new_method_statement_template_-_04-12.pdf

A basic Risk assessment could go along the lines of

 1 Identify the hazards (ie dropping of m-cleans wallet on my  toe)

 2 Decide who might be harmed and how (ie my toe due to weight of wallet)

 3 Evaluate the risks and decide on the precautions (ie Risk is "high" due to weight of wallet. Don't stand next to m-clean whilst he is paying for the round)

 4 Record your findings and implement them (ie m-cleans wallet is heavy don't let it come into contact with toe .Let m-clean go to bar himself)

 5 Review your risk assessment and update it if necessary

Remember if it's in writing you need to enforce it...but you cannot account for every  eventuality (if you do you will end up driving yourselves nuts with paper work) . Keep it simple.
www.cleaning-service.uk.com
www.render-cleaning.co
https://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/bromoco-systems/
Exterior cleaning specialists covering Merseyside,Lancashire and Cheshire. TEL 08000 933267

Pro-Smart

  • Posts: 134
Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #5 on: November 20, 2013, 10:58:52 am »
Rob/Chris,

Many thanks for the advice and guidance both of you. I'll be sitting down tonight slaving over a hot keyboard...

My p/washer is a Honda GX390 250 bar 15ltm with reduction gearbox and Interpump. I have a Mosmatic 21" rotary plus lances and 30m of HP hose. The combination is very effective and I manage to get through the cleans in good time with great results. I have a 240 litre blue wheelie bin modified with hose connector input and float valve. It all looks professional which I think is so important if you want to referrals...

I've got a SWB Trafic with a 600 litre baffled tank for the wfp w/cleaning and I can just fit in all the p/washing kit too.

I did consider getting a 21ltm machine but I wouldn't have been able to fit it in the van. The other thing is I have found that some people's water pressure/flow is pretty poor and even at 15ltm I find it empties the buffer tank quickly and I end up having to wait for it to fill again. If I used a 21ltm machine it would empty the wheelie bin even quicker!!

chris scott

  • Posts: 3414
Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #6 on: November 20, 2013, 11:11:47 am »
Rob/Chris,

Many thanks for the advice and guidance both of you. I'll be sitting down tonight slaving over a hot keyboard...

My p/washer is a Honda GX390 250 bar 15ltm with reduction gearbox and Interpump. I have a Mosmatic 21" rotary plus lances and 30m of HP hose. The combination is very effective and I manage to get through the cleans in good time with great results. I have a 240 litre blue wheelie bin modified with hose connector input and float valve. It all looks professional which I think is so important if you want to referrals...

I've got a SWB Trafic with a 600 litre baffled tank for the wfp w/cleaning and I can just fit in all the p/washing kit too.

I did consider getting a 21ltm machine but I wouldn't have been able to fit it in the van. The other thing is I have found that some people's water pressure/flow is pretty poor and even at 15ltm I find it empties the buffer tank quickly and I end up having to wait for it to fill again. If I used a 21ltm machine it would empty the wheelie bin even quicker!!

The machine fine and i totally agree with you on the 21/15lpm debate.
www.cleaning-service.uk.com
www.render-cleaning.co
https://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/bromoco-systems/
Exterior cleaning specialists covering Merseyside,Lancashire and Cheshire. TEL 08000 933267

Rob_Mac

Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #7 on: November 20, 2013, 12:11:54 pm »
Hello Christopher.

A valuable addition

Rob ;D

chris scott

  • Posts: 3414
Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #8 on: November 20, 2013, 12:42:20 pm »
Hello Christopher.

A valuable addition

Rob ;D
Thank you....did you add yoast?
www.cleaning-service.uk.com
www.render-cleaning.co
https://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/bromoco-systems/
Exterior cleaning specialists covering Merseyside,Lancashire and Cheshire. TEL 08000 933267

Rob_Mac

Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #9 on: November 20, 2013, 01:17:26 pm »
You're going to have to remind me again about 'yoast'.

I am in the middle of counting my wallets contents and could be some time ;)

Rob ;D

chris scott

  • Posts: 3414
Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #10 on: November 20, 2013, 01:36:21 pm »
You're going to have to remind me again about 'yoast'.

I am in the middle of counting my wallets contents and could be some time ;)

Rob ;D
http://yoast.com/wordpress/seo/
www.cleaning-service.uk.com
www.render-cleaning.co
https://www.cleaning-service.uk.com/bromoco-systems/
Exterior cleaning specialists covering Merseyside,Lancashire and Cheshire. TEL 08000 933267

drive surgeon

  • Posts: 2812
Re: Pressure Washing Method Statement & Risk Assessment
« Reply #11 on: November 25, 2013, 07:57:07 pm »
Yeah water running out is abig problem on some jobs. Not enough pressure to feed tanks.