THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 95 - July 2002

FROM THE EDITOR

This months NEWSLETTER contains information about staff, one staff member having retired, several passing examinations, one leaving, and one working overseas. In addition there is information about the Lottery syndicate, NDT standards and specifications (although no updates this month), NDT training questions on Eddy-current Testing, Health & Safety relating to noise levels, and more.

If there are other things that you would like included in the NEWSLETTER that are relevant or of interest to staff members, please let me know. You can email me at david@appliedinspection.co.uk.

PERSONNEL

Arthur Gardiner Retired
Arthur retired 12 June 2002 after seventeen years with the company. He received cash collected from his colleagues and from the company to buy a watch of his choice. We wish him a long and happy retirement, although we hope to see him back again on a part time basis.

Congratulations
To Pat Philbin who passed PCN Level 2 supplementary Ultrasonic Testing examination, category 3.9 - Node weld.

To Lee Armstrong and John Oliver who both passed PCN Level 1 (Rail) Ultrasonic Testing of Solid Axles.

Goodbye
To Ian Harrison who has left the company. We wish him all the best for the future.

Overseas
Bill Wibberley has spent a week in southern Spain installing specialist rail strain gauging equipment.

Fred Hawkesworth is going to Iran during July to carry out a Welding Inspection training course.

Joke of the Month
Funeral for a Fish
Little Nancy was filling in a hole in her backyard when her neighbour peered over the fence. Interested in what the little girl was doing, he asked, "What are you up to, Nancy?" Without looking up, little Nancy said tearfully, 'My goldfish died, and I've just held a funeral for him, and buried him." Nancy continued, neatly patting down the mound of earth. The neighbour contained a smile and asked, "That's an awfully big hole for a goldfish, isn't it, Nancy?" "That's because he's inside your bl**dy cat."

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)
2000 - £270.00 (53 weeks)
2001 - £382.00 (52 weeks)
January 2002 - £30.00 (4 weeks)
February 2002 - £10.00 (4 weeks)
March 2002 - £60.00 (5 weeks)
April 2002 - £80.00 (4 weeks)
4 May 2002 - £10.00
11 May 2002 - £0.00
18 May 2002 - £20.00
25 May 2002 - £10.00
1 June 2002 - TBA
8 June 2002 - TBA
15 June 2002 - TBA
22 June 2002 - £10.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

The winnings, if any, for 1, 8 and 15 June will be included in next month's NEWSLETTER. Dawn Andrews was on holiday in the Maldives and has not yet checked the results. There is no connection between her holiday with husband Pete in the Maldives and the missing three weeks winnings above, so she says!!

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 Penetrant Testing in last month's NEWSLETTER are as follows:

1) B     2) B      3) C     4) C     

Here are some more questions, this time on Eddy-current Testing:

1. Which of the following methods may be used to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of an eddy current test system?

     A. Filtering or differentiation.
     B. Phase discrimination.
     C. Integration.
     D. All of the above.

2. In order to decrease the effect on conductivity readings due to variations in test part thickness:

     A. The test frequency should be increased.
     B. The test frequency should be decreased.
     C. The fill factor should be decreased.
     D. There is no practical method for decreasing this effect.

3. When testing by the eddy current method, discontinuities will be most easily detected when the eddy currents are:

     A. Coplanar with the major plane of the discontinuity.
     B. Perpendicular to the major plane of the discontinuity.
     C. Parallel to the major plane of the discontinuity.
     D. 90 degrees out of phase with the current in the coil.

4. A term used to describe the effect observed due to a change in the electromagnetic coupling between a test specimen and a probe coil when the distance of separation between them is varied is:

     A. Fill factor.
     B. Edge effect.
     C. End effect.
     D. Lift-off.

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 Training 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.

Training Policy
Training Policy Statement The company is committed to the training and development of its workforce at all levels. The aim is to enhance the organisation's capabilities through continuous performance improvement and develop excellence for its customers.

Each employee will be appraised at least once per year in order to review and improve performance and to explore ways of developing the individual for his/her current and future roles in line with the company's objectives.

Appropriate means for the development of individuals will be used. These may include:

All employees are encouraged to improve and develop their skills, knowledge and abilities through further education and reading.

TEN RULES OF BUSINESS
  1. Nothing is impossible until it is sent to a committee.
  2. If things seem to be better you've overlooked something.
  3. People are divided into those who do things and those who get the credit.
  4. Copiers make accurate copies of human errors.
  5. Everyone talks, some listen, few hear, none understand.
  6. If things are made clear people become confused.
  7. Computers are blamed for everything that goes wrong.
  8. Humans are congratulated when everything goes right.
  9. Badly planned projects take four times longer to complete than expected.
  10. Well planned projects take twice as long as expected.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Noise
Exposure to noise at work is a serious hazard and can have the following consequences:

Noise is measured in dB (A). The scale is logarithmic. Therefore an increase of 3 dB(A) doubles the sound intensity. A noise level of 85 dB(A) is considered to be the level at which hearing is at risk. This is approximately the level of noise where normal conversation cannot be carried out and shouting is required in order to be heard.

The noise level in a typical fabrication shop is 100 dB(A) - 5 times greater than the level at which damage may occur. Therefore hearing protection must be worn as a requirement of the Noise at Work Regulations 1989.

If there is a blue sign at the entrance to a work area requiring that hearing protection is worn then it is a legal requirement to comply with the sign and wear ear protection. Failure to comply could result in prosecution of the individual, the Company and Applied Inspection. If you are in any doubt as to the level of noise in a work area, always wear ear protection.

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 26/06/2002

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