July 2001 July 2001 Newsletter for Applied Inspection, NDT / Non-destructive Testing specialists
THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 83 - July 2001

FROM THE EDITOR

New Speed Cameras
Applied Inspection staff are required to comply with the law at all times. However, on rare occasions site engineers have been fined for speeding. The following information may, therefore, be relevant to some staff.

New speed camera systems are being introduced on British roads. One such system went on line last month on the M1, netting 4,300 offenders in a single day. The system measures the average speed of every vehicle over a measured distance. It reads your number plate and matches it up - camera to camera. Various police forces are implementing the system, including Kent and Leicestershire.

Systems can monitor vehicles 24 hours per day. Using machine vision, vehicle number plates are read, and the precise time of each observation recorded. As the vehicle passes the second camera, the number plate records are matched, and an average speed calculated. If this is above the trigger point, the camera automatically records the date, time, location and speed of offending vehicle, along with a detailed image of the front of the vehicle. The image clearly records the number plate, make, model, who is driving and colour of vehicle.

Cameras are digital, use no film or flashgun and can deal with 60,000 tickets every hour. They are hooked up to the DVLA computers and can automatically process the fines and send out notices in the post. You've been warned!

Quotation
"I recently read that drinking can damage your health. So I've given up reading."

Clive Millard

PERSONNEL

Welcome
Welcome to Angela White, Ben Clamp, Steve Barden and Ben Lyon who all started who started at Burton during June.

Winning Bid by Bill
Applied Inspection (Burton) has won a contract involving stress measurement on rail against intense competition. Bill Wibberley led the bid for the work, which is to be carried out in Glasgow for AEA Technology.

Ten Pin Bowling at Burton
Applied Inspection invite all staff to put their names forward for a Ten Pin Bowling evening at Burton Bowl. The date has yet to be decided. There will be a £50.00 prize for the winner. Just telephone Burton to put your name on the list.

Congratulations
To Martin Hall who passed PCN Level II Radiographic Testing "With flying colours" (Quotation from Lavenders).

To Mark Skelland who passed PCN Ultrasonic Level II recertification examination at Lavenders.

To Gail Sanderson who passed ASNT Level II Penetrant Testing.

Honest Pat's Car Sales
Due to the ongoing update of the company car and van fleet, there will be several vehicles coming up for sale in the near future. Staff members are given preference on the sale of company vehicles. Any one who has a requirement should contact Pat Slater at Holmewood to register an interest.

Overseas
Alan Bartlett carried out 3 weeks training in Malaysia during May. Kim Sharp is off to Hong Kong and then Qatar to carry out NDT training

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)
December, 2000 - £30.00 (5 weeks)
January, 2001 - £50.00 (4 weeks)
February, 2001 - £30.00 (4 weeks)
March 2001 - £10.00 (5 weeks)
April 2001 - £20.00 (4 weeks)
5 May 2001 - £20.00
12 May 2001 - £0.00
19 May 2001 - £10.00
26 May 2001 - £0.00
2 June 2001 - £10.00
9 June 2001 - £10.00
16 June 2001 - £0.00
23 June 2001 - £0.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
BS EN 12668: Part 2: 2001, Non-destructive testing - Characterization and verification of ultrasonic examination equipment - Part 2: Probes, has superseded BS 4331: Part 3: 1974 which is now withdrawn.

Quotation
"I feel sorry for people who don't drink. They wake up in the morning and it's the best they feel all day."

(Dean) Martin Long

BS EN ISO 9001: 2000
In the new standard the management representative has an additional responsibility (clause 5.5.2 c): 'ensuring the promotion of awareness of customer requirements throughout the organisation'.

It is unclear how this is to be achieved. An organisation might have many products / services and a management representative cannot be familiar with all the customers' different requirements.

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

1) D     2) A      3) D     4) C     

Here are some more questions, this time on Radiography:

1. Unexposed boxes of x-ray film should be stored:

     A. flat.
     B. on edge or end.
     C. in a pile.
     D. it doesn't matter.

2. The lead symbol "B" is attached to the back of the film holder to determine:

     A. sensitivity.
     B. whether excessive backscatter is present.
     C. radiographic contrast.
     D. density.

3. The cause for poor image definition could be:

     A. too short source-to-film distance.
     B. screens and film not in close contact.
     C. film graininess.
     D. all of the above.

4. During manual film processing, the purpose of the stop bath is to:

     A. change the exposed silver salts to black metallic silver.
     B. neutralize the developer and stop the developing process.
     C. eliminate most water spots and streaks.
     D. none of the above.

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 Email us through the company Website.

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.

Joke of the Month
A Polar Bear asks his mother if he really is a Polar Bear. His mother says, "Yes, or course you are, go and ask your dad".

He asks his dad the same question, and his dad replies, "Yes son, of course you are. You have white fur and eat Seals like me. Why do you ask?"

His son replies, "I'm bl**dy cold".

Keith Dashper

HEALTH & SAFETY

High Blood Pressure
People under the age of 65 without hypertension should have their blood pressure checked at least once every five years. Those over 65 should have a check approximately every two years.

However, blood pressure may be checked much more frequently, for instance in women taking the contraceptive pill or who are pregnant, or in people with other medical conditions or who are taking certain medications. In most instances, your general practitioner will be able to advise.

Radiation Safety
At the British Institute of NDT Service Inspection Group meeting on 26 April 2001 Mr James Taylor, HM Principal Specialist Inspector - Radiation, attended and made a number of comments relating to the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 (IRR99) and the Approved Code of Practice and Guidance. Mr Taylor's comments, observations and advice will be reproduced over the next few months under the following headings:

o Risk Assessments
o Local Rules
o Site Radiography Diagram Requirements
o ALARP
o Outside Workers
o Radiation Enclosure / Compound Engineering Controls
o Seven Day Notification
o Investigation Levels

Risk Assessments
Generic Risk Assessments should be made for:
1. Purpose Built Radiation Enclosures or Compounds
2. Site Work.
· Check to see whether the Generic Risk Assessment is suitable and if it isn't, then write a job specific Risk Assessment.
· If the site work is long term then a specific Risk Assessment will be required.
· The RPS can be used to ensure that the site Generic Risk Assessment is suitable for the location and scope of work. If it isn't, the RPS should inform management and together they should write a job specific Risk Assessment.
· Periodic site visits should be made by the company's Management to ensure compliance with the above and the suitability of the Risk Assessments being used.

The RPA should be involved in producing the Generic Risk Assessments for both Site and Compound use.

It is advisable that the Generic Risk Assessments should be signed by a Director of the company or alternatively a Senior Manager acting on behalf and with the approval of a Director.

Local Rules
For permanent radiation compounds specific Local Rules are required.

Appropriate site General Local Rules can be used for site radiography providing that they match the site conditions. However, for longer-term site work, specific Local Rules should be written.

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 27/06/2001

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