Revised PSL/30 process for logging industrial NDT work experience
22/12/2020
Industrial non-destructive testing (NDT) experience is defined as the experience acceptable to the certification body, gained under qualified supervision, in the application of the NDT method and in the sector concerned needed to acquire the skill and knowledge to fulfil the provisions of qualification.This article provides guidance to the candidate, employer and suitably qualified person (see definitions within PSL/30) for the purpose of making a signed declaration attesting to the candidate having met all the necessary industrial experience and competency requirements for certification to be released by PCN. For further information on all NDT method-specific industrial experience requirements, the reader should consult ISO 9712, PCN GEN and/or PSL/30.
PSL/30 now mandates that all industrial experience attained by the candidate shall be documented and recorded in the form of a personal experience log (an example personal experience log is contained within PSL/30 and may be used by the candidate and the employer). During completion of the personal experience log by the candidate, the log shall be monitored and reviewed by suitably qualified persons at strategic points during the industrial experience gathering process. This will ensure that the candidate has the required supervision, guidance and support when gathering NDT experience on the employer’s products or plant.
When the candidate has attained the required amount of industrial experience to meet the requirements contained within the latest version of ISO 9712 and the suitably qualified person is satisfied that the candidate is competent to carry out the required NDT inspections on the employer’s products or plant, then the suitably qualified person, in conjunction with the employer and the candidate, shall make a final signed declaration on Form 1 contained within PSL/30 before submitting their PSL/30, which should be supported by a completed PSL/57C, to the AQB and/or PCN for consideration and possible certification release.
Where there is doubt as to the quality and content of information supplied on PSL/30 Form 1, then the Authorised Qualifying Body (AQB) or PCN may ask to review, in full, the candidate’s personal experience log. In the event that a false statement is found to have been made by the candidate, suitably qualified person or employer concerning pre-certification experience declarations, then any certification awarded as a result shall be classified as null and void, with appropriate additional measures being implemented through use of CP27: The code of ethics for PCN certificate holders.
It is also essential that all NDT employers are aware of their responsibilities under Section 5.5.1 of ISO 9712, where responsibility to document the validity of the personal information provided to PCN, which shall include the declaration of education, training, industrial NDT experience and visual acuity needed to determine the certification eligibility of the candidate, lies directly with the employer.
If the candidate is unemployed or self-employed then the declaration of education, training and industrial NDT experience shall be attested to by at least one independent party acceptable to the certification body. (In instances such as this, PCN can provide further guidance as necessary to fulfil the task.)
The process of gathering NDT experience should not be seen to be overly complicated, but should ensure that the candidate for certification has had the opportunity to experience such items as are included in the following list (the list is not exhaustive, but does provide examples of worthy inclusions that may be entered into the candidate’s personal experience log):
- Use of written NDT instructions;
- Use of NDT codes;
- Use of NDT standards;
- Experience of NDT procedures;
- Experience and evidence of liaising with clients in order to understand the inspection task(s) required;
- Calibration of NDT equipment in accordance with NDT techniques, procedures, codes or standards;
- Evidence of having accomplished the hands-on NDT inspection task in accordance with an appropriate NDT instruction, code, standard or client brief whilst under appropriate qualified supervision;
- Knowledge of other NDT methods that may be deployed in order to confirm or assist with inspection findings and/or problems;
- An understanding of the product technology associated with the material, component, structure or employer’s plant for the purpose of classifying and reporting on defects or discontinuities associated with the manufacturing process or in-service conditions experienced
- Evidence of NDT report writing following completion of the NDT inspection task by documenting inspection task results in accordance with the client’s/employer’s brief;
- Having an awareness of all statutory and local health and safety implications associated with completion of the task;
- Evidence of liaising with customers, equipment suppliers and regulatory bodies in order to discuss and understand the NDT deployed on a product.
Evidence of the above-listed tasks entered into the candidate’s personal industrial experience log all go towards building a solid industrial NDT experience record. When carried out under the guidance of a suitably qualified person, this shall ensure that the candidate is competent to carry out NDT unsupervised on behalf of the employer after certification has been issued by PCN.
For further guidance in relation to this article, please contact: technical@bindt.org
