Leading Australian manufacturer of high pressure water blasting equipment, Australian Pump Industries has launched a new range of high pressure protection clothing for use with pressure cleaners.
 
Aussie’s new Safe Operator range of high pressure protection clothing is designed for use with pressure cleaners up to 7300 psi (500 bar), dramatically cutting professional pressure cleaning injuries and reducing fatalities in the industry.
 
Aussie Pumps’ Product Safety Manager, Martine Musumeci observes that many council employees, tradies and even professional high pressure cleaning contractors work without steel cap boots, let alone serious protection equipment.
 
Tying in with Aussie Pumps’ training program for operators, the Safe Operator range protects operators from the very real dangers of high pressure water use. The protection clothing range includes overalls, jackets, trousers and aprons.
 
Musumeci explains the Safe Operator range steps away from traditional high pressure Kevlar suits with the use of a revolutionary new material called Dyneema that offers a more comfortable, lightweight and relatively inexpensive alternative. The high strength fibre, which is 15 times stronger than steel weight for weight, is extremely light while offering levels of protection not previously available.
 
Much thinner and more flexible than traditional materials such as leather, cotton or metals, the Safe Operator gear range is comfortable to wear and not clumsy like other high pressure rated suits. Given that 90% of all professional pressure cleaning is carried out in the under-500 bar (7300psi) range, operators using machines in the 2000 - 7300 psi range can now be protected and kept safe, says Musumeci.
 
Lined for maximum comfort, the Safe Operator protective clothing range also offers waterproof zippers with overlapping flaps and integrated underarm ventilation in addition to features such as detachable hoods, and adjustable waterproof cuffs and pockets on jackets and overalls. The trousers offer an elasticised waist and reinforced knee areas.
 
Dyneema’s unique properties mean that the clothing can be machine washed at up to 40°C.
 
The Aussie Safe Operator protection clothing range and training system focus on reducing injuries, cutting downtime and lowering costs. In addition to slashing Workers’ Compensation claims, Safe Operator will also make operators feel more secure on the job.

Aussie Pumps will soon introduce a new range of 500 bar (7300 psi) proof gloves as part of the Safe Operator program.