August 2003 Newsletter for Applied Inspection, NDT / Non-destructive Testing specialists

THE APPLIED INSPECTION

NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 108 - August 2003

FROM THE EDITOR

Investors in People
The most important asset of Applied Inspection is our Employees. In recognition of this fact the Company has achieved certification to the 'Investors in People' standard, which is due for renewal in September this year. An auditor will visit Burton and Chesterfield offices and will informally interview selected individuals to ascertain their understanding of how the individual contributes to the aims and objectives of the Company.

The main aims of the Company are:

To supply industry with first class NDT, engineering inspection and consultancy services.
To satisfy customer requirements.
To continuously improve all aspects of the company.

The main objectives of the Company are to continually strive for higher levels of:

Integrity of staff.
Staff competence.
Standard and accuracy of reporting.
Punctuality.
Service and value for money.
Awareness of the environment and our influence on it.
Health and safety performance.

Other aims and objectives are contained within the Company policy statements that continue to appear in the Newsletter and are on the notice board at each company location.

Joke of the Month

I married Miss Right. I just didn't know her first name was Always.

I haven't spoken to my wife for 18 months. I don't like to interrupt her.

Marriage is a 3-ring circus: Engagement ring, wedding ring, and suffer-ring.

The last fight was my fault. My wife asked, "What's on the TV?" I said, "Dust!"

In the beginning, God created earth and rested. Then God created man and rested. Then God created woman. Since then, neither God nor man has rested.

From Lee Armstrong
(For more marriage jokes from Lee see the entertainment section of the Applied Inspection Website).

PERSONNEL

Welcome
To Dean Bayliss who started on 15 July in the Welding Shop at Burton.

Congratulations
Lee Armstrong and Kay got married on 23 June 2003 at Ayia Napa Monastery in Cyprus. We wish both a long and happy marriage.

More Congratulations
To Lee Armstrong who, before his marriage, passed PCN Level 1 H2 (Rail) Techniques U5 and U8.

To Mark Skelland who passed (ASNT) level II Visual Testing in accordance with the company's Written Practice and SNT-TC-1A.

Congratulations to Carl Ringrose who has successfully completed NVQ level 2 in fabrication and welding with excellent comments from his college tutors. He will continue training towards NVQ level 3. Carl has also completed the first 2 years of employment with Applied Inspection and has gained many skills, including PCN level 2 in MT and PT. He will continue to assist the company in its aims and objectives by becoming a multi-skilled operator and will shortly commence training in radiography.

Even More Congratulations
To Scott Young and Steven Scadden at Ossett who received training and passed the examination to become qualified to drive fork lift trucks. Steve won a baseball cap for scoring the highest mark on the day of all trainees, and also won a bacon sandwich in a personal bet with Scott!

TEN PIN BOWLING AT BURTON BOWL

THURSDAY 14TH AUGUST AT 8.00 PM
FANTASTIC PRIZES YET AGAIN FOR:

Highest male score (one game)
Highest female score (one game)
Lowest male aggregate score
Lowest female aggregate score

PLEASE RING TERESA AT BURTON OFFICE OR DAWN AT CHESTERFIELD OFFICE TO PUT YOUR NAME DOWN

The National Lottery
Dawn Andrews at Holmewood and Keith Dashper at Ossett run the Applied Inspection lottery syndicate. There are currently 33 members who each pay Ł1.00 per week (stopped at source) which is put on the Saturday lottery. Anyone who is not a member, and who would like to join, should contact Dawn or Keith.

Our winnings to date are as follows:
1995 - £160.00 (40 weeks)
1996 - £297.00 (52 weeks)
1997 - £220.00 (52 weeks)
1998 - £251.00 (52 weeks)
1999 - £290.00 (52 weeks)
2000 - £270.00 (53 weeks)
2001 - £382.00 (52 weeks)
2002 - £330.00 (52 weeks)
January 2003 - £20.00 (4 weeks)
February - £0.00 (4 weeks)
March - £20.00 (5 weeks)
April - £40.00 (4 weeks)
May - £10.00 (5 weeks)
7 June - £0.00
14 June - £0.00
21 June - £0.00
28 June - £0.00
5 July - £10.00
12 July - £10.00
19 July - £10.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
There have been no changes this month notified by the BSI PLUS update system to the company's list of controlled documents.

NDT Training
The answers to the questions on Radiation Safety in last month's NEWSLETTER are as follows:

1) D 2) C 3) A 4) B

Here are some more questions, this time on Penetrant Testing:

1. In order to make water a relatively good penetrant:

     A. a wetting agent must be added to reduce surface tension.
     B. a wetting agent must be added to reduce wetting ability.
     C. a wetting agent must be added to increase surface tension.
     D. Water is a good penetrant with no additives.

2. A penetrant that will spread over the surface of the test area in a smooth, even film despite a small amount of surface contamination is said to have:

     A. low viscosity.
     B. high viscosity.
     C. wetting ability.
     D. low evaporation.

3. Viscosity has a considerable effect on some of the practical aspects of the use of a penetrant. It is an important factor in the:

     A. solubility of contaminants.
     B. washability of a penetrant.
     C. degree of fluorescence emitted.
     D. speed with which a penetrant will enter a defect.

4. One of the two most important properties of a good penetrant is wetting ability. Wetting ability is:

     A. controlled by the contact angle and surface tension of the penetrant.
     B. a function of viscosity and increases as surface tension decreases.
     C. measured by contact angle and decreases as surface tension increases.
     D. measured by surface tension and increases as contact angle decreases.

Understanding North Derbyshire language:
The following are translations from the Clay Cross 'language' used extensively in North Derbyshire, England.

isme edleytson? - Are my headlights working?
e waint lerus - We're not allowed.
arlasl guwup wall - My wife won't be pleased.
shil gerovarit - Time's a great healer.
dustha wontowtduwin? - Can I help?
shintin / isnorin - She / he is not in.
isnokinabert sumwier - He's in the vicinity.
wier awiyupto? - Can we re-cap?
wier canapurit? - Where do you want this?
sareyt owdun - It's past its sell-by date.

Thanks to Dawn Andrews

(Contact Dawn at Chesterfield Laboratory if you require any assistance in these translations or those for the last two months' Newsletters)

Quality at Applied Inspection
Applied Inspection has a number of statements relating to its position on that subject. They are Vision, Mission, Quality, Training, Health & Safety, Environmental, Equal Opportunities and Alcohol & Drugs.

These statements are contained in the Company Rules booklet, available at each site on the Notice Board, and the Health & Safety booklet, issued to all employees. In addition, from time to time we also publish the statements in the NEWSLETTER. Here is our Vision Statement. We welcome comments and/or suggestions from staff in relation to any company policy statement. Please contact any director or e-mail us through the company web site.

Vision Statement
Applied Inspection aims to be internationally renowned for its supply to industry of first class nondestructive testing (NDT), engineering inspection and consultancy services.

HEALTH & SAFETY

'SAFEContractor' Health & Safety Accreditation
Applied Inspection has been re-accredited in accordance with the 'SAFEContractor' health and safety standard following an assessment by National Britannia. The certificate is awarded for NDT inspection and other work activities.

SAFEContractor is a health & safety accreditation scheme for contractors. It ensures health & safety risks are minimised and duties under the Health & Safety at Work, etc Act 1974 and associated Regulations are fulfilled. They maintain a register of approved contractors at www.safecontractor.co.uk who have demonstrated their health & safety competency.

Working in Confined Spaces
Confined spaces include closed tanks (pressure vessels etc.) with restricted access, trenches, manholes, pipes, flues, ducts, ceiling voids, enclosed rooms such as basements, and other places where there is inadequate natural ventilation or access and egress is difficult or restricted.

Precautions:

Before entering any confined space, satisfy yourself that it is safe to enter.
Ensure adequate ventilation. Use forced ventilation if necessary to remove or dilute dangerous gases or vapours and provide fresh air
Ensure that someone remains outside to keep watch and to communicate with you inside.
Ensure there is adequate access and egress equipment
Do not enter any confined space without first informing the Client

If in doubt, make the necessary enquiries before entering

CONTACTS

Holmewood, Derbyshire: Tel: 01246 851864 (4 Lines) Fax: 01246 852243
Burton, Staffordshire: Tel: 01283 515163 (3 Lines) Fax: 01283 539729
Ossett, W Yorks: Tel/Fax: 01924 270006 (2 lines)
Glasgow, Scotland: Tel/Fax: 0141 3355191
Internet Website: www.appliedinspection.co.uk

Published by: Applied Inspection Ltd., Holmewood, Chesterfield, UK. Editor: D K Thomas 23/07/2003

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