October 2004 Newsletter for Applied Inspection, NDT / Non-destructive Testing specialists

THE APPLIED INSPECTION

NEWSLETTER

Issue No. 122 - October 2004

FROM THE EDITOR

BSI Audits to ISO 9000
Audits were carried out by British Standards Institution during September at Chesterfield and Burton laboratories. Only one minor non-conformity was raised. Thank you to all staff for maintaining such a high standard.

Joke of the Month

You see I'm against hunting; in fact I'm a hunt saboteur. I go out the night before and shoot the fox.

(David Slater)

PERSONNEL

Welcome
To Mark Hall who started at Ossett during September. Mark is an experienced NDT engineer and holds PCN level 2 certification in Radiographic Interpretation (Welds), Magnetic Particle and Penetrant Testing, and Basic Radiation Safety.

To Katie Bradshaw who started at Burton during September as a member of the office staff.

Congratulations
To Lee Armstrong who passed PCN Ultrasonic rail re-assessment categories U1, U2, U3, U5, U8 and U14.

To Martin Nicholson who passed ASNT level 2 Magnetic and Penetrant Testing.

To Dean Bradshaw and Daniel Strong who both passed ASNT level 2 Penetrant Testing.

The National Lottery
Dawn Andrews at Holmewood and Keith Dashper at Ossett run the Applied Inspection lottery syndicate. There are currently 31 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)
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
2004 - 7 August - £10.00
2004 - 14 August - £0.00
2004 - 21 August - £10.00
2004 - 28 August - £10.00
2004 - 4 September - £10.00
2004 - 11 September - £10.00
2004 - 18 September - £0.00
Any errors in the above list will be corrected as soon as possible.

QUALITY & TRAINING

Standards and Specifications
BS EN 12668-2: 2001, Non-destructive testing - Characterization and verification of ultrasonic examination equipment - Part 2: Probes, has been amended. Amendment No. 1, AMD 15290 (Modification to Clause 1).

BS EN 12668-3: 2000, Non-destructive testing - Characterization and verification of ultrasonic examination equipment - Part 3: Combined equipment, has been amended. Amendment No. 1, AMD 15291 (Revision to Scope).

Quote of the month

"Don't be afraid to take a big step if one is indicated; you can't cross a chasm in two small jumps."

David Lloyd George

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

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

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

1. The velocity of longitudinal waves will be highest in:

     A. Water.
     B. Air.
     C. Aluminium.
     D. Stainless steel.

2. The incident angles at which 90 degrees refraction of longitudinal and shear waves occurs are called:

     A. The normal angles of incidence.
     B. The critical angles.
     C. The angles of maximum reflection.
     D. None of the above.

3. Compression waves whose particle displacement is parallel to the direction of propagation are called:

     A. Longitudinal waves.
     B. Shear waves.
     C. Lamb waves.
     D. Rayleigh waves.

4. 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.

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 Environmental Policy Statement, which has recently been changed to include reference to the Disability Discrimination Act. 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 policy is applicable to all activities carried out by the company in-house and on-site, including driving and radiation safety.
4. 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.

5. 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.

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

TRANSPORT

Fuel Costs
As all drivers will know, fuel prices are very high at the moment. We can all help in keeping the costs down by looking out for lower pump prices and filling up more regularly at these outlets. 0.84p per litre should be a maximum to pay.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Used Aerosols
In accordance with environmental legislation the disposal of used aerosols must be controlled. Therefore all used consumable aerosols must be returned to base laboratory for disposal. Pressurised containers and paint may not be placed in the waste disposal bins, therefore all used aerosols must be punctured and the contents released prior to placing in the bins for disposal.

When is a transportable load not a transportable load?
It is a fundamental principle of radiation protection, and a requirement of Regulation 8 of the Ionising Radiations Regulations 1999 that radiation exposures should be restricted so far as reasonably practicable. But when is it reasonably practicable to carry out radiography within a shielded enclosure, or to put it a different way, when is working under site conditions justified?

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) takes the view that an item that can be readily loaded onto a vehicle and transported a reasonable distance into a radiography enclosure should be.

Site or "open shop" radiography is, by definition, inherently less safe than carrying out radiography within a shielded enclosure since those in-built controls are not in place and consequently the risks of exposure are greater.

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 22/09/2004

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