Bookish perspectives

Books have played a large part in my life. I attended school and university before the internet was invented, so all my education was book-based. Very early on, I developed a love for reading. I clearly remember the fortnightly trip to the library and the pleasure of picking new books to read. I was quite happy to lose myself in a book. Libraries have been in the news recently. A library was burnt down in the recent riots, but such is the importance of a library to the community that lots of people rallied round to rebuild and restock it. A news item on the BBC highlighted the number of library closures around the country. Michael Rosen, a former Children’s Laureate, spoke passionately about the importance of the library to the community and the support they provide to both children and adults to read and develop.

Reading is not limited to books but also encompasses magazines and newspapers. I recently read an article in which the author listed the children’s authors, past and present, who were ‘in’ or ‘out’. It was a little sad to read damning criticism of a number of authors that I read as a youngster. Whilst I understand the author’s perspective, I do not necessarily agree. Those books imparted a love of reading in me, which has only grown over the years and continues to expose me to many new ideas and perspectives. Even at my age, I am still being challenged to consider different viewpoints.

A case in point is a magazine article that questioned whether we should be riding horses in sport and society. Until I read this, I had unquestioningly accepted the riding of horses and it was interesting to be shown a different perspective and understand the improvements to horse welfare that are being made. It also introduced me to the concept of a social licence to operate (SLO), which is the approval a community gives to a business, industry or project. Community can refer to employees, local residents and other stakeholders, including the general public. Separately from any legal requirements, an SLO entails securing social permission and covers operating procedures and business practices.

This got me thinking about how an SLO could apply to the NDT profession. We have the basis of one in the British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing’s Service Inspection Group’s Code of Ethics (www.bindt.org/membership/for-companies/code-of-ethics). For individuals working in non-destructive testing (NDT), there is the Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct. This covers four fundamental principles for ethical behaviour and decision-making: honesty and integrity; respect for life, law, the environment and public good; accuracy and rigour; and leadership and communication (see www.bindt.org/membership/for-individuals/statement-of-ethical-principles-and-code-of-conduct).

Another contribution to an NDT SLO could be the proposed Code of Conduct prepared by the Programme for the Assessment of NDT in Industry (PANI) 3 management committee (in 2008) for use by industrial plant owners to ensure that activities impacting on NDT reliability are addressed. See Appendix 10 in the PANI 3 report: www.hse.gov.uk/research/rrpdf/rr617.pdf. This may require updating.

The recent scandals widely reported in the media show that adherence to such ethical principles is not a given. It is important that the NDT profession lives up to its ethics. It is worth reading the above documents and reflecting on them on a regular basis to ensure that they guide our activities, especially in these rapidly changing times.

To help us do this, it is worth following advice recently reported: step back, slow down and take time to look and listen. This can be achieved by simply stopping to read a book.
Happy reading.

Please note that the views expressed in this column are the author’s own personal ramblings for the purpose of encouraging discussion within NDT News. They do not represent the views of Jacobs or BINDT.

Letters can be mailed to The Editor, NDT News, Midsummer House, Riverside Way, Bedford Road, Northampton NN1 5NX, UK. Email: ndtnews@bindt.org or email Bernard McGrath direct at bernard.mcgrath1@jacobs.com