January 2002 Newsletter for Applied Inspection, NDT / Non-destructive Testing specialists

THE APPLIED INSPECTION

NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 89 - January 2002

FROM THE EDITOR

The directors wish to say thank you to all staff for making 2001 a great year for the company. Everyone has put in a huge effort during the year to help cement Applied Inspection's position as one of the best, if not the best, service inspection company in the UK. The success this year has enabled the company to invest in a considerable amount of training. The following is a list of recent PCN courses run by Kim Sharp, Training Manager, at the Burton branch and the number of Applied Inspection staff who attended:

Date - week ending	Course reference	Method	Level	Number on course
12/10/2001	NDT 30M	MT	2	7
19/10/2001	NDT 30P	PT	2	6
02/11/2001	NDT 30M	MT	2	2
09/11/2001 and 16/11/2001	NDT 4	UT	2	5
23/11/2001 and 30/11/2001	NDT 20	RT	2	4
07/12/2001	NDT 22	BRS	1	3

After completing the course, all staff attempted the relevant PCN examinations. We don't have the final figures yet, but the pass rate is high - reflecting the high quality of the training.

Quotation
"Success is maintained and achieved by those who keep trying."

Ted Peake
(On back of business card)

Customer Satisfaction Survey 2001
The overall Customer Satisfaction measurement of 89 per cent is the same as last year. It is again an extremely high figure and reflects the importance that all staff place on satisfying the requirements of customers.

In the period between the last survey and this one there have been improvements in the areas of:

Interim report
Value for money
Final account
Compliance with health, safety and environmental rules

However, there has been a deterioration in standards in:

Ease of booking services
Punctuality

All other areas achieved similar results (within 1 percentage point).

Whilst the improvements are welcome and reflect the effort made by staff to ensure a high standard of service, the two areas of deterioration are of concern. The reason for the deterioration may well be related to the success of the company this year, with big increases in staff numbers and turnover. However, our success cannot be used as an excuse. We will focus our efforts on improving these areas in the coming year.

Christmas Party
This year's Christmas dinner and dance will be held on Friday 28 December at the same place as last year; the New Bath Hotel, Matlock Bath, Derbyshire. Employees and guests should arrive between 7.00 and 7.30 pm. Anyone who has an overnight room booked can arrive any time after 2.00 pm. The hotel has a heated indoor swimming pool, sauna and solarium. It is situated along side the A6 just south of Matlock Bath. Everyone is reminded that they are expected to behave in an appropriate manner, befitting a high quality hotel.

PERSONNEL

Welcome
To David Jordan and Paul Dove who started at Burton during last month.

Congratulations
To Steve Redshaw who passed PCN Level 3 Radiography Welds. Also to Ian Harrison who passed PCN Level 2 Ultrasonic Testing of Welds, Category 3.2.

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 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)
January - June 2001 - £180.00 (26 Weeks)
July 2001 - £40.00 (4 weeks)
August 2001 - £10.00 (4 weeks)
September 2001 - £30.00 (5 weeks)
October 2001 - £30.00 (4 weeks)
November 2001 - £82.00 (4 weeks)
1 December 2001 - £0.00
8 December 2001 - £10.00
15 December 2001 - £0.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

Joke of the Month
Fred gets talking to a girl in a shop. They arrange to meet up and go to the cinema. The girl says, "I hate people who drink, swear and smoke." Fred replies, "Oh, that's okay, me too. I don't smoke, drink or swear."

The next day they meet at the cinema and sit down to watch the film. It was all going really well until Fred checked his pockets and in a horribly forgetful moment shouted, "Sh*t, I left my bl**dy fags in the pub."

Internet

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 Eddy-current Testing in last month's NEWSLETTER are as follows:

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

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

1. Which of the following gives the greatest radiation dose on average to members of the UK population?

     A. medical irradiation (hospital x-rays etc)
     B. cosmic rays
     C. radon gas in buildings
     D. discharge from the nuclear power industry

2 The dose rate 7.5 micro Svh-1 is:

     A. a reference level obtained from the annual dose limit of 50 mSv
     B. an arbitrary figure found to have been satisfactory for the definition of suitable shielding
     C. a maximum permissible dose rate obtained from NRPB
     D. none of the above

3 Which of the following individuals can be designated as classified workers?

     A. a male employee aged 35
     B. a male employee (trainee) aged 17
     C. a female employee (trainee) aged 17
     D. all of the above

4. Which of the following materials has the thinnest half value layer?

     A. lead
     B. steel
     C. concrete
     D. aluminium

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 Health and Safety Policy 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.

Health & Safety Policy Statement
1. Our policy is to conduct all our operations with the health and safety of our employees as a prime objective.

2. The company's policy is to do all that is reasonably practicable to prevent injury to all its employees and to the general public.

3. The company has a responsibility to:

Comply with all statutory requirements.
Provide and maintain healthy and safe working conditions.
Provide adequate training and instruction to enable employees to perform their work safely and efficiently.
Make available all necessary safety devices and to supervise their use.
Liaise with employees or their representatives whenever possible in all matters relating to health and safety.
Review this health and safety policy annually, or whenever the need arises, whichever is the sooner.

Radiation Safety

Ensure that all "classified" personnel have had adequate training/instruction in radiation safety.

4. It is the duty of each employee to:

Comply with all statutory requirements.
Always work in a safe and efficient manner, ensuring the health and safety of him or herself and others.
Use protective clothing and equipment provided by the company.
Report incidents that have led or may lead to injury or damage.
Comply with the company safety procedures.
Assist in the investigation of accidents in order to prevent any future occurrence.

Radiation Safety

Make himself/herself available for medical examination and blood test by the Appointed Doctor as and when required by the company (classified personnel only).
Wear in a proper manner any dosemeter (TLD) or other radiation safety device provided for him/her (classified personnel only).

5. Arrangements for implementation of this health and safety policy are shown in the Company Rules (Health & Safety).

HEALTH & SAFETY

Prostate Problems
Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia (BPH) This is common and is more likely to happen as men get older. It is most likely to affect men over 60. The prostate gland slowly gets bigger, causing difficulty or pain when passing urine.

The symptoms get slowly worse. There are several treatments available. BPH does not lead to cancer, or increase the risk of cancer developing.

Prostatitis
Prostatitis can affect men of any age. It is an inflammation of the prostate. It causes pain and difficulty when passing urine. Prostatitis can also cause pain in the pelvis, genitals, back passage and on ejaculation. It can also cause fever.

Sources of information are available from NHS Direct, telephone 0845 4647; on the internet at www.malehealth.co.uk; and from the Prostate Cancer Charity Confidential Helpline, telephone 0845 300 8383 - staffed by experienced nurses.

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 19/12/2001

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