THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 126 - February 2005

FROM THE EDITOR

Planned Move to New Premises for Burton
The directors are pleased to announce that we are in the process of purchasing new premises at Burton. The laboratory, welding shop and offices are currently housed at Bond Street, with the main reception, offices and other shop floor facilities at Green Street. Both locations have been sold to Burton College.

The new premises are located at the corner of Hawkins Lane and Derby Road, Burton. All staff will be moving into the Bond Street facilities to free Green Street for the College, before moving to the new premises. We will keep you informed of the timetable for the moves.

Joke of the Month

A jump-lead walks into a bar. The barman says "I'll serve you, but don't start anything."

(David Slater)

PERSONNEL

Staff Matters
Congratulations to Dawn Andrews who celebrated her 40th birthday on 30 December 2004. She then proceeded to break her leg four days later whilst out walking. We wish her a speedy recovery.

Congratulations to Bob Theaker who celebrates his 50th birthday on 13 February 2005.

Welcome
To David Kelleher who started at Burton during January. David is a very experienced NDT engineer in the rail industry and holds PCN Ultrasonic Testing Level 1 Category H2, Techniques U1 and U2 (Rail).

Congratulations
To Russell Swain who passed the PCN Radiation Protection Supervisor examination during January.

To Tom Leary who passed PCN Radiographic Interpretation Level 2 (Welds).

To Lee Armstrong and Alan Wigham who both passed PCN Level 1 Ultrasonic Testing Category H2, Technique U15 (Rail).

The National Lottery
Dawn Andrews at Chesterfield and Keith Dashper at Ossett run the Applied Inspection lottery syndicate. There are currently 31 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)
2000 - £270.00 (53 weeks)
2001 - £382.00 (52 weeks)
2002 - £330.00 (52 weeks)
2003 - £230.00 (52 weeks)
2004 - £90.00 (26 weeks, January to June)
2004 - July - £10.00 (5 weeks)
2004 - August - £10.00 (4 weeks)
2004 - September - £20.00 (4 weeks)
2004 - October - £0.00 (5 weeks)
2004 - November - £0.00 (4 weeks)
2004 - December - £50.00 (4 weeks)
2005 - 1 January - £0.00
2005 - 8 January - £0.00
2005 - 15 January - £0.00
2005 - 22 January - £10.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

NIGHT OUT IN DERBY

SATURDAY 26 FEBRUARY 2005

MEET AT STANDING ORDER IN IRONGATE, DERBY AT 8.00 PM

ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED SHOULD CONTACT KELLY AT BURTON OR STEVE HANCOCKS / PAUL JOHNSON (OR JUST TURN UP ON THE NIGHT - NO PARTNERS PLEASE!)

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
ASTM A 388/A 388M - 04, Standard Practice for Ultrasonic Examination of Heavy Steel Forgings, has superseded ASTM A 388/A 388M - 03.

BS EN ISO 9606-2: 2004, Qualification test of welders - Fusion welding - Part 2: Aluminium and aluminium alloys, has superseded BS EN 287-2: 1992 which is now withdrawn.

Quote of the month

"Education is the best provision for the journey to old age."

Aristotle

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

1) D     2) D      3) C     4) B     

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

1. In order to utilize the principles of geometric enlargement (placing the film at a distance from the specimen):

     A. The source-to-specimen distance must be one-half the source-to-film distance.
     B. The source of radiation must be extremely small.
     C. A magnetic focusing coil must be used near the port of the x-ray tube.
     D. The specimen must be of uniform thickness.

2. The x-ray absorption of a specimen depends on:
     A. The thickness and density of the material.
     B. The atomic number of the material.
     C. Both A and B above.
     D. Neither A nor B.

3. The radiographic absorption of a material will tend to become less dependent upon the composition of the material when:

     A. The kilovoltage is increased.
     B. The source-to-film distance is decreased.
     C. The kilovoltage is decreased.
     D. A filter is used.

4. A monochromatic X-ray beam:

     A. Is a narrow beam used to produce high-constant radiographs.
     B. Is also referred to as a heterogeneous X-ray beam.
     C. Is a beam containing only characteristics X-radiation.
     D. Is a beam consisting of a single wavelength.

Useful Information
If you want to avoid unsolicited intrusions by sales and marketing personnel you can register at www.tpsonline.org.uk to stop the following:

Telephone Calls - Telephone Preference Service (TPS)
Mail - Mailing Preference Service (MPS)
Faxes - Fax Preference Service (FPS)

The service is for both business and residential in the UK. Once you have registered it will become effective in 28 days.

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.

The 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 and related information in the NEWSLETTER. Here are our Environmental Objectives. 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.

ENVIRONMENTAL OBJECTIVES
  1. Ensure that all employees understand the policy of the Company, receive sufficient motivation and possess the necessary skills to carry out their tasks efficiently.
  2. Ensure 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.

TRANSPORT

After its introduction in 2004, the Vehicle Policy and all its requirements and responsibilities are now familiar to all in the company. January saw the first driver training courses for drivers considered to have reached 'serious' traffic offence points totals, or 'fault' accidents. We ask all staff to take these issues seriously and help maintain and improve our overall driving performance.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Asbestos
From May 2004 it became the responsibility of the site owners or site managers to ensure any contractors on their premises are informed of any known potential risks from asbestos. However, operators must be aware that there may be a possibility of discovering asbestos containing materials (ACMs) in, for instance, boiler houses or plant rooms. If asbestos containing materials are suspected in the work area operators must stop work immediately and inform the client. The material must not be disturbed under any circumstances. For more information contact John Morris (QHS&E Manager).

Prohibition signs and Mandatory signs must be obeyed.

Therefore any person entering the workplace must comply with the instructions shown on a Prohibition sign and a Mandatory sign.

CONTACTS

Holmewood, Derbyshire: Tel: 01246 851864 (4 Lines) Fax: 01246 852243
Burton, Staffordshire: Tel: 01283 515163 (4 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 26/01/2005

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