THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 78 - February 2001

FROM THE EDITOR

Customer Satisfaction Survey
A questionnaire was used to ascertain how a random selection of customers rated the performance of Applied Inspection. The questions addressed work carried out both in the company's laboratories and on-site. Results for each question expressed as a percentage are as per the following table:

MeasurementPer Cent
Booking
94
Punctuality
90
Attitude and Appearance
90
Timescale
91
Explanation of Test Results
88
Interim Report
86
Final Report
91
Value
81
Final Account
84
Health, Safety and Environmental
86

Overall
Applied Inspection Ltd
89 per cent

A general guide as to the level of customer satisfaction for a company such as Applied Inspection Limited with a large customer base would be 75 to 85 per cent. Therefore an overall figure of 89 per cent is exceptionally good. Survey carried out by John Morris during November and December 2000, assisted by Gail Sanderson. See www.appliedinspection.co.uk/css.html for further information.

Xmas Dinner and Dance
This year's Christmas dinner and dance was held at the New Bath Hotel, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire, on Saturday 23 December. Approximately 75 staff and partners enjoyed an excellent meal and entertainment afterwards. It had a real party atmosphere with a few (some might say a lot) becoming the worse for wear during the evening. Some members of staff, Ivan Hutson, Steve Wilkes, Mark Skelland and Kevin Armstrong, took an unofficial dip in the swimming pool. None of them had brought with them their swimming attire, but Ivan improvised by leaving his socks on.

PERSONNEL

Congratulations
To Alan Bartlett, John Greenan and Fred Hawkesworth who all passed CSWIP Welding Inspection Category 3.1 at TWI, Cambridge during December 2000.

To Lew Devine who passed his Welding Inspector 10-year recertification examination at TWI during December.

To Jack Rodgers who passed his PCN Level 2 recertification examination in Penetrant Testing.

Pool Tournament
The Applied Inspection Pool Knockout Tournament is still waiting for the final to take place between Paul Goss from Burton and Steve Wilkes from Chesterfield for the £50.00 prize money.

Final: Paul Goss v Steve Wilkes

The National Lottery
Dawn Andrews at Holmewood and Keith Dashper at Cleckheaton run the Applied Inspection lottery syndicate. There are currently 33 members who each pay £1.00 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)
January, 2000 - £50.00 (5 weeks)
February, 2000 - £30.00 (4 Weeks)
March, 2000 - £50.00 (4 weeks)
April, 2000 - £10.00 (5 weeks)
May, 2000 - £20.00 (4 weeks)
June, 2000 - £0.00 (4 weeks)
July, 2000 - £10.00 (5 weeks)
August, 2000 - £10.00 (4 weeks)
September, 2000 - £30.00 (5 weeks)
October, 2000 - £30.00 (4 weeks)
November, 2000 - £0.00 (4 weeks)
2 December, 2000 - £0.00
9 December, 2000 - £20.00
16 December, 2000 - £10.00
23 December, 2000 - £0.00
30 December, 2000 - £0.00
6 January, 2001 - £10.00
13 January, 2001 - £0.00
20 January, 2001 - £10.00
An additional £150.00 has been spent from our winnings in an attempt to win the three roll over jackpots in 1996.
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
The following standards were added to the company's BSI PLUS update list of controlled standards during January:

BS EN ISO 3452-3: 1999, Non-destructive testing - Penetrant testing, Part 3: Reference test blocks.

BS EN ISO 3452-4: 1999, Non-destructive testing - Penetrant testing, Part 4: Equipment.

BS EN ISO 9001: 2000
The new (2000) standard is being phased in over a period of three years; therefore the old standard (1994) remains valid for the time being. ISO 9001:2000 is intended to be applicable to all organisations, regardless of their size or what they do. There is, therefore, no ISO 9002 or ISO 9003 in the 2000 version, as there was in the 1994 version.

However, not all of the ISO 9001:2000 requirements are applicable to every organisation. Where a requirement cannot be applied "due to the nature of an organisation and its product", it may be excluded. For example, a company that does not have a design facility, nor does it need one, may exclude design. Whilst the 1994 standards permitted exclusion of particular clauses, the difference now is that the exclusions must be justified.

Over the next few months in the NEWSLETTER, we will look at the other major changes made in the new standard.

Quotation
"Do not misinterpret courtesy and good manners as a sign of incompetence. Just because someone asks you how you want something done does not mean that they do not know how to do it."

David Baker
18 January 2001

NDT Training
The answers to the questions on Magnetic Particle Inspection in last month's NEWSLETTER are as follows:

1) C     2) A      3) D     4) C     

Here are some more questions, this time on Radiation Safety:

1. Which of the following particles or rays have the highest ionizing effect in air?

     A. Alpha particles
     B. Beta particles
     C. Neutrons
     D. Gamma and X rays

2. For a given thickness the most effective protection from X or gamma radiation is:

     A. bricks
     B. concrete
     C. barium plaster
     D. lead

3. Converting old units to SI units, 100 rads = 1 gray (Gy). How many mGy's are their in 1 rad?

     A. 0.10
     B. 1.00
     C. 10.00
     D. 100.00

4. Express 2220 GBq's in TBq's:

     A. 0.222
     B. 2.220
     C. 22.22
     D. 222.0

Quality at Applied Inspection
As do most other companies, 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 environmental policy statement, which was reviewed and updated this month:

Environmental Policy Statement
The Company is committed to the implementation and maintenance of an Environmental Management System in accordance with BS EN ISO 14001, with emphasis placed on prevention of adverse environmental effects rather than on detection and amelioration after occurrence.

We shall strive for continual improvement of our environmental performance at all levels in the organisation through:

1. Ensuring that all employees understand the policy of the Company, receive sufficient motivation and possess the necessary skills to carry out their tasks efficiently.
2. Ensuring all employees are consulted and informed on all matters affecting the environment.
3. Carrying out non-destructive tests so as to minimise environmental effects.
4. Reducing waste and consumption of resources such as materials, fuel and energy.
5. Reducing or eliminating the production of polluting releases to the environment.
6. Meeting all regulatory and legislature requirements relating to the environmental effects of the business operation.
7. Ensuring that, whenever possible, our purchasing of materials/services encourages suppliers to minimise environmental effects.
8. Minimising the environmental effects of new developments through strategic planning.
9. Committing to continual improvement by assessing the risks, aspects and impacts, and setting appropriate objectives and targets.
10. Applied Inspection Limited will carry out regular monitoring, auditing and management review of the Company's activities against this policy and the environmental management system.

This policy is available to the general public on request.

Joke of the Month
A Derby County supporter is watching his team on television when the doorbell rings. He shouts to his wife to get out of the bath and answer the door. It's the bloke from next door. Seeing the wife with just a towel around her, he says, "if you give me a flash of your naked body, I'll give you £200". She thinks about it (a new dress and a new pair of shoes, maybe) and says, "OK". The man gives her the money and leaves with a smile on his face.

As the wife is going up stairs, the husband shouts, "who was it, dear?" "Oh, just the bloke from next door" says the wife. The husband shouts, "did he give you the £200 that he owes me?"

DOUG THOMAS

HEALTH & SAFETY

Gamma Radiography
Under the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR99) Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) it is a requirement under paragraph 99 that:

"Sources of ionising radiation which can give rise to significant exposure in a very short time should be fitted with suitable warning devices which … indicate for a radioactive source whether it is in or out of its shielding (or the exposure shutter is open or closed)."

To comply with the ACOP guidance issued in conjunction with the above, it is now mandatory at Applied Inspection that a gamma alarm is used for every exposure when carrying out gamma radiography. This requirement will normally be met in the company's laboratories as audible and visual alarms are fitted to enclosures. However, on site, a portable gamma alarm must be used (See Local Rules Appendix J - procedure for operation of Tech-ops 492B gamma alarm and 500B gamma alarm).

Local Rules Appendix D - Procedure for Operation of Isotope Containers, will be updated in due course to include the above mandatory requirement.

Note: the use of a gamma alarm does not affect the requirement to monitor the isotope container after every exposure. Reliance on gamma alarm systems (at other companies) has resulted in significant exposure to radiographers in the past, when the alarm failed to operate.

CONTACTS

Holmewood, Derbyshire: Tel: 01246 851864 (3 Lines) Fax: 01246 852243
Burton, Staffordshire: Tel: 01283 515163 (3 Lines) Fax: 01283 539729
Cleckheaton, W Yorks: Tel/Fax: 01274 869900
Glasgow, Scotland: Tel/Fax: 0141 3355191
Internet Website: www.appliedinspection.co.uk

Published by: Applied Inspection Ltd., Holmewood, Chesterfield, UK. Editor: D K Thomas 24/01/2001

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