THE APPLIED INSPECTION
NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 91 - March 2002

FROM THE EDITOR

The Applied Inspection NEWSLETTER is published monthly. It is sent to all staff, currently numbering eighty-seven, 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).

Quotation
"They know enough who know how to learn."

Henry Adams

PERSONNEL

Welcome
To Charanjit Singh (Metallurgist), Bob Wilde (Welder) and Penny Beech (Administration) who all joined Burton during February.

Goodbye
To Rachel Brittain who has been with the company for over four years. We wish her well in her new employment.

Congratulations
To Clive Millard who passed PCN Level II Ultrasonic (Welds category 3.9 - Node) and PCN Level II 10 year re-certification examination Ultrasonic (Castings).

To Arthur Gardiner who passed PCN Level II Ultrasonic (Castings) 10 year re-certification examination.

To Scott Young who passed PCN Level II Ultrasonic (Wrought Products).

To Graham Stapleton who passed PCN Basic Radiation Safety.

To David Swain and Andrew Robertson who both passed ASNT Ultrasonic Level 2 (Welds Castings and Forgings).

To Steve Redshaw and Carl Hunt who both passed ASNT UT Level 2 (Castings).

To Dave Jordan who passed PCN Level 2 Radiography (Welds).

Joke of the Month
"Son, "Why is my brother called Patrick?"
Father, "Because he was born on St Patrick's day"
Son, "Why is my brother called George?"
Father, "Because he was born on St George's day"
Son, "Why is my brother called David?"
Father, "Because he was born on St David's day. Why are you asking me all these questions, Pancake?"

Clive Millard

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)
5 January 2002 - £0.00
12 January 2002 - £20.00
19 January 2002 - £0.00
26 January 2002 - £10.00
2 February 2002 - £10.00
9 February 2002 - £10.00
16 February 2002 - £0.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
AWS D1.1/D1.1M: 2002, Structural Welding Code - Steel, has superseded AWS D1.1: 2000, which is withdrawn.

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

1) B     2) D      3) B     4) B     

Here are some more questions, this time on Ultrasonics:

1. Where does beam divergence occur?

     A. Near field.
     B. Far field.
     C. At the crystal.
     D. None of the above.

2. As frequency increases in ultrasonic testing, the angle of beam divergence of a given diameter crystal:

     A. Decreases.
     B. Remains unchanged.
     C. Increases.
     D. Varies uniformly through each wavelength.

3. The simple experiment where a stick in a glass of water appears disjointed at the water surface illustrates the phenomenon of:

     A. Reflection.
     B. Magnification.
     C. Refraction.
     D. Diffraction.

4. The crystal thickness and transducer frequency are related. The thinner the crystal:

     A. The lower the frequency.
     B. The higher the frequency.
     C. There is no appreciable effect.
     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 Alcohol and drugs 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.

Alcohol and Drugs Policy
1. The Applied Inspection policy on alcohol and drugs at work is designed to promote safe and sensible attitudes. Drinking at work is not therefore encouraged and the use of drugs is only permitted when prescribed by a doctor. Keeping either alcohol or drugs on the premises for consumption at work is strictly forbidden, as is being under the influence of drink or drugs whilst at work, or travelling to and from sites.

2. This policy applies to all levels in the organisation, and to any visiting contractors.

3. The company recognises that both alcohol and drug problems may be an illness and, as such, will be treated in the same way as other illnesses. In addition, it will take measures wherever possible to prevent misuse through education and raising awareness about their effects on work performance and health.

4. Any employee who has a problem, or thinks he may be developing one, should discuss it with his or her superior at the earliest opportunity so that appropriate action can be taken. For example, action can be taken to avoid situations where alcohol or drugs are available, or arrangements for counseling or treatment can be agreed. Failure to take action can result in exposure of other employees to unacceptable health and safety dangers, and disciplinary action in accordance with the company rules may be taken.

5. All managers and supervisors are required to ensure that strict confidentiality is maintained.

The Apostrophe Protection Society
It has more than 2,000 active members throughout the world and fights against the growing abuse of apostrophes.

Common errors relating to the use of apostrophes include writing "wont" for "won't"; "its" for "it's" - as well as "it's" for "its".

Misplacing apostrophes for plural nouns is also widespread: for example using "pizza's" for "pizzas", "MP's" for "MPs" and even writing "the 1990's" when it should be "the 1990s".

Further information can be obtained from this website: www.apostrophe.fsnet.co.uk

HEALTH & SAFETY

Portable Appliance Testing
The Company has purchased two Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) checkers. One checker will remain at Chesterfield laboratory and the other will remain at Burton laboratory. Cleckheaton laboratory will loan the Chesterfield checker as and when necessary.

A procedure (HSE 001) has been written and guidelines are available to check the safety and integrity of mains electrical appliances. A list of operatives that have been trained in the use of the PAT checker is posted on each Laboratory notice board. Site based operatives must visit their base Laboratory with all their equipment to ensure it is PAT checked and safe to use. This includes any personal equipment brought to the laboratory or site including radios, battery chargers etc. Thereafter equipment must be tested at 6 monthly intervals.

Operatives must not use any electrical equipment that does not carry a current electrical safety sticker or tag.

The following visual safety checks must be carried out on all electrical equipment prior to use whether or not it is the property of the Company and whether or not it displays a current electrical safety sticker or tag.

Plug

Cable

Casing

This list is not exhaustive and any item that appears dangerous should be rejected. Equipment that does not satisfy any of these visual checks must not be used and quarantined and marked for repair.

Filing Cabinets
Despite purchasing metal filing cabinets that are advertised as "Safe design - anti tilt design allows only one drawer to be opened at a time" a recent incident at Chesterfield has highlighted that more than one drawer may be opened at any one time. Therefore individuals must ensure that all drawers are fully closed before attempting to open another drawer and that all drawers are fully closed before leaving the cabinets.

b>John Morris, QHS&E Manager

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 20/02/2002

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