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Hot Water and Steam Cleaning Toolbox Talk

Hot water and steam pose many burn risks and other injury hazards. Use this free hot water and steam cleaning toolbox talk to identify and reduce such risks. You can also explore more than 60 toolbox talks online covering many topics with Protecting.

Free hot water and steam cleaning toolbox talk online

Introduction

Hot water and steam are often used to clean walls, floors, and equipment in many industries and operations. A variety of dangers are associated with hot water or steam cleaning, however, all of which should be considered to avoid personal injury.

Main points

• Burns – water temperatures between 180ºF and 212ºF clean most effectively. Unfortunately, water can scald a person at temperatures as low as 120ºF. To avoid increasing your risk of injury in the case of a mishap, set your water temperature only as high as necessary to accomplish the job. Many cleaning tasks can be successful with temperatures below 120ºF. At this level, you probably don’t need to wear personal protective equipment (PPE), except to keep yourself dry. When working with soot, light oils, grease, and sticky surfaces, water temperatures between 120ºF and 180ºF may be required. In these cases, you should wear a face shield, rubber gloves and boots, plus an apron long enough to cover the tops of the boots. Additionally, you should wear your boots inside your pant legs, so that hot water cannot flow into your boots.
• High pressures – use only high-pressure armoured or wire-reinforced steam hoses to eliminate the possibility of bursting under high pressure. There’s a good chance you’ll be sprayed if a hose breaks, or you or a co-worker could be struck by a whipping hose. Never use a cold water hose for hot water or steam washer cleaning.
• Hose maintenance – always inspect your hoses before use. If your hose is damaged, replace it. Unless you have the proper equipment, it’s unlikely you can repair a hose so that it’s as strong as it was before it broke. Make sure all hose connections are tight and proper. Leaks and failures are very dangerous. If a hose does become kinked, untwist it to remove the kinks. When you finish the cleaning job, roll or coil the hose and put it away. Never leave it where it could be run over or otherwise damaged.
• Uncontrolled hose – be cautious around a steam hose that has been allowed to cool. Water may have condensed inside the hose and could be released when the valve is opened. This can cause the hose and nozzle to whip violently.
• Electric shock – everyone knows that water and electricity do not mix, so shut off all electrical power within the work area while cleaning with water or steam. Cover electrical fixtures. Never spray directly at any electrical equipment. Do not turn the power back on until you are sure everything is absolutely dry.
• Cleaners – be aware of the potential danger in detergents and alkaline cleaning materials. Many cleaners have a corrosive action on all body tissues, especially the eyes. Even contact with dilute solutions can cause injury. When mixing, add the alkaline cleaners to the water gradually. Dumping a large quantity all at once could result in an explosion. Prevent contact with your skin and avoid breathing the mists and powders. Always wear your PPE, including respirators and eye protection. Also, be sure a wash station is nearby in case of a splash.
• Poor visibility – probably the most common complaint when doing this work is lack of good visibility, due to the steam cloud. Operators should direct the steam away from themselves. Plan the work so you do not have to walk into a vapour cloud, where you might trip or slip and fall. If you become enveloped in a cloud, stop work, wait for it to dissipate, and warn other workers away. Unless the work area is very confined, you should soon have a clear field of vision.

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