Preparing material surfaces by abrasive blasting
Overview
This standard identifies the competences you need to prepare a range of substrates to enable coating systems to be applied, in accordance with approved procedures. You will be required to carry out preparation on a variety of substrates using a variety of abrasive blasting equipment and abrasives. The process will also include the cleaning of the surface prior to the application of the marine coatings.
Your responsibilities will require you to comply with organisation policy and procedures for the preparation activities undertaken and to report any problems with these activities, or with the tools and equipment used, that you cannot personally resolve, or are outside your permitted authority, to the relevant people. You will be expected to work with a minimum of supervision, taking full responsibility for your own actions and for the quality and accuracy of the work that you carry out.
Your underpinning knowledge will provide a good understanding of your work and will provide an informed approach to applying preparation procedures to marine component/structural surfaces. You will understand the preparation procedures and relevant standards, their application and their limitations, in adequate depth to provide a sound basis for carrying out the activities to the required specification.
You will understand the safety precautions required when carrying out the preparatory operations. You will be required to demonstrate safe working practices throughout and will understand the responsibility you owe to yourself and others in the workplace.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
- work safely at all times, complying with health and safety and other relevant regulations, directives and guidelines
- obtain and follow relevant instructions, standards and other specifications
- identify the conditions of the surface to be prepared
- select the appropriate tools and equipment and check that they are in a safe and usable condition
- carry out the preparation activities using appropriate tools and techniques
- check the prepared surface to ensure that it meets the required specification
- deal promptly and effectively with problems within your control and report those that cannot be resolved
- shut down and secure the preparation equipment to a safe condition on completion of the activities
- reinstate the work area on completion of the activities in line with agreed organisational procedures
- complete relevant documentation in line with organisational
procedures
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
the safe working practices and procedures to be observed when working with abrasive blasting surface preparation tools (such as general workshop and site safety, protecting other workers from the effects of the work, safety in enclosed/confined spaces, working at height, use of mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs), atmospheric controls)
statutory requirements, risk assessment procedures and relevant requirements of HASAWA and COSHH (such as Approved Codes of Practice (ACOP), The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations, The Provision of and Use of Work Equipment Regulations, The Noise at Work Regulations, Control of Vibration at Work Regulations, The Confined Spaces Regulations, The Special Waste Regulations, The Pollution Prevention and Control Regulations, the Water Resources Act)
the environmental impact of the operations that you are carrying out and with the materials you are using and how the impact can be minimised
the health and safety requirements of the work area in which you are carrying out your surface preparation activities and the responsibility they place upon you
how to recognise and deal with emergencies and the procedures to be followed (such as methods of safely evacuating and closing down of compartments in the case of fire or other major incident, first aid, fire fighting and resuscitation of personnel)
the hazards associated with surface preparation using abrasive blasting (such as sparks, dust/debris, hearing damage, hand/arm vibration, working at heights) and how they can be minimised
the requirements for working in confined spaces, the importance of emergency procedures and safe systems of work (including permits to work, Required Air Quantities (RAQs) and local exhaust ventilation (LEV)) to maintain safe conditions; the provision of adequate and safe lighting and avoidance of sources of ignition
the personal protective equipment (PPE) to be worn during the surface preparation activity
how to obtain the required work procedures and instructions and how to interpret their requirements (to include the appropriate standards and specifications, use of paint manufacturers' data sheets to ascertain the surface cleanliness standards and profiles required)
how to carry out currency/issue checks of the specifications you are working with
the reasons for carrying out surface preparation and the effects on the final finishing activities if preparations are not carried out correctly
the various types of substrate that may require preparing and the types of tools and preparation methods that may be used on them
why different types of substrate require different preparation techniques to be used
the types of defects and contamination to be found on unpainted and painted surfaces and their causes
types of equipment used, their setting up and operation, codes of practice, manufacturers' operating instructions, company procedures and instructions (including operation and techniques for use)
the effects of lengths of air and blast hoses, selection of appropriate nozzle size, selection of nozzle configuration
maintenance of hoses and joints/gaskets; inspection of nozzles for wear; inspection of safety devices
the requirements for air pressure, volume of air flow and for cleanliness of air; use of a hypodermic needle gauge
types of abrasive, their characteristics and application, the importance of abrasive profile and abrasive cleanliness, company procedures for checking levels of contamination in abrasives
the limitations of abrasive blasting, the requirements for the removal of particular types of coatings and hazards associated with the removal of particular coatings
the importance of maintaining a register of power tools and the need to check tools against certification
basic quality control techniques and procedures, tolerances and quality standards, measurements, environmental conditions (such as dew point, relative humidity) and their effect on work output and on its quality
the various types of tests that are carried out on the prepared surfaces to check their compliance with the specification
how to safely dispose of waste materials, including the environmental impact of the materials you are using and the minimisation of this impact
the extent of your own responsibility and whom you should report to if you have problems that you cannot resolve
Scope/range
Scope Performance
Scope Knowledge
Values
Behaviours
Behaviours:
You will be able to apply the appropriate behaviours required in the workplace to meet the job profile and overall company objectives, such as:
- strong work ethic
- positive attitude
- team player
- dependability
- responsibility
- honesty
- integrity
- motivation
- commitment