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

THE APPLIED INSPECTION

NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 102 - February 2003

FROM THE EDITOR

The Applied Inspection NEWSLETTER is published monthly. It is sent to all staff, currently numbering ninety, and various clients who have requested it. This NEWSLETTER, and old issues going back to January 2000, is also available on the Internet at www.appliedinspection.co.uk/newsletters.

The object of the NEWSLETTER is to keep people informed about developments in the company relating to personnel, quality, health & safety and environmental issues. In addition, quotations, jokes etc. are included.

If anyone has any suggestions regarding ways to improve the NEWSLETTER, please contact David Thomas at Chesterfield via telephone, fax or email (david@appiedinspection.co.uk).

Joke of the Month (for men)
If your dog was barking at the back door and your wife was knocking on the front door, who would you let in first?

The dog, because at least he would shut up once he was in.

Joke of the Month (for women)
Men are like computers: Hard to figure out and never have enough memory.

PERSONNEL

Congratulations
To Pat Slater and Tom Donegan who passed CSWIP 3.1 Welding Inspector 10 year renewal examinations.

To Lew Devine who passed PCN Level 2 Ultrasonic (Welds) Node examination, category 3.9.

Welcome
To James Bailey who started in January as Quality Manager / Welding Engineer at Burton.

Goodbye
To Kim Sharp who left during January to join British Energy. We wish him good luck at his new job.

Also goodbye to David Jordan and Charanjit Singh. We wish them well for the future.

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)
January to June - £150.00 (26 weeks)
July 2002 - £10.00 (4 weeks)
August 2002 - £30.00 (5 weeks)
September 2002 - £20.00 (4 weeks)
October 2002 - £40.00 (4 weeks)
November 2002 - £60.00 (5 weeks)
7 December 2002 - £10.00
14 December 2002 - £10.00
21 December 2002 - £0.00
28 December 2002 - £0.00
4 January 2003 - £10.00
11 January 2003 - £10.00
18 January 2003 - £0.00
25 January 2003 - £0.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

GO KARTING DAY IN SHEFFIELD

DATE: TO BE ARRANGED

ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED SHOULD CONTACT FRED HAWKSWORTH AT BURTON

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
BS EN ISO 9934-2: 2002, Non-destructive Testing - Magnetic particle testing - Part 2: Detection media, has superseded BS 4069: 1982 and BS 5044: 1973, which are both withdrawn.

NDT Training
The answers to the questions on Eddy Current Testing in last month's NEWSLETTER are as follows:

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

Here are some more questions, this time on Ultrasonic testing:

1. The angle formed by an ultrasonic wave as it enters a medium of different velocity than the one from which it came and a line drawn perpendicular to the interface between the two media is called:

     A. The angle of incidence.
     B. The angle of refraction.
     C. The angle of rarefaction.
     D. The angle of reflection.

2. The process of adjusting an instrument or device to a reference standard is referred to as:

     A. Angulation.
     B. Scanning.
     C. Correcting for distance-amplitude variations.
     D. Calibration.

3. The angle of reflection is:

     A. Equal to the angle of incidence.
     B. Dependent on the couplant used.
     C. Dependent on the frequency used.
     D. Equal to the angle of refraction.

4. The angular position of the reflecting surface of a planar discontinuity with respect to the entry surface is referred to as:

     A. The angle of incidence.
     B. The angle of refraction.
     C. The orientation of the discontinuity.
     D. None of the above.

Quotation

"Don't beat about the bush. Chop it down"

Pat Slater

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 Equal Opportunities 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.

Equal Opportunities Statement
1. Applied Inspection is an Equal Opportunities employer and endeavours to foster an atmosphere of mutual tolerance and co-operation amongst it's employees.

We will provide equal opportunities for all employees, and aim to recruit, train, employ and promote staff according to ability and without discrimination or disadvantage of any kind which has no direct bearing on a person's ability to carry out his/her work.
We seek to deal with employees in ways which promote mutual toleration and co-operation, and to ensure that staff act similarly towards colleagues, customers and the general public.

2. The Company as an employer recognises that it is bound by the provisions and the spirit of the Disabled Persons (Employment) Acts 1944 and 1958, the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Equal Pay Act 1970, the Race Relations Act 1976 and associated Codes of Practice.

3. The Company will not tolerate acts of direct, or indirect, discrimination or prejudice by its staff and will take any necessary action to ensure compliance with its policy.

The Company recognises that acts of harassment or victimisation are forms of discrimination.

4. The equal opportunities policy will be implemented by the Company, and given to all employees. The Company places a responsibility on its management staff at all levels to ensure that the letter and spirit of this policy is implemented.

5. The Company will seek positively to develop practice which promotes equal opportunities in recruitment, training and promotion. Individual employees at all levels will be expected to co-operate with measures designed to develop equal opportunities and the removal of discrimination.

6. The policy will be monitored and reviewed from time to time.

Thought for the month:

A fine is a tax for doing wrong.
A tax is a fine for doing well.

HEALTH & SAFETY

An incident occurred recently where an employee suffered a major injury of broken bones and torn ligaments in his ankle due to stepping off a ladder on to the edge of steel plates on the floor.

In order to prevent re-occurrence of the incident please ensure the following precautions are carried out:

Always:

Inspect the ladder for damage prior to use
Ensure the ladder is long enough (at least 1 metre longer than the work height)
Ensure the ladder is placed on firm level ground
Ensure the ladder is secured at the top and bottom (or 'footed')
Ensure the ladder is placed at an angle of at least 4:1(75 degrees)
Ensure there are no obstacles or items adjacent to the foot of the ladder to impede your step off the ladder onto the floor
Look where you are placing your hands and feet
Use shoulder straps to carry equipment
Use both hands to hold onto the ladder

Never:

Carry heavy or bulky items
Work from a ladder without using one hand to hold onto the ladder
Work for long periods from a ladder
Lean from the ladder
Rest loose items on the ladder - remember operatives working below

The use of ladders is potentially dangerous and suitable alternative methods should be used if available.

CONTACTS

Holmewood, Derbyshire: Tel: 01246 851864 (3 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 29/01/2003

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