• Verification of Certifications

Nova Data Testing employees have certifications from a number of national organizations. All of these organizations have web sites where the individual certifications can be verified. Here is a list of those organizations with a link to their web sites and a brief explanation of what the certifications should look like. It is very important to insure that the individuals or companies doing the NDT inspections are certified in the inspection methods that are being used. 

1. American Society of Non Destructive Testing. www.asnt.org

Holders of valid ASNT Level III certifications should have:

A. An ASNT NDT Level III Certification, printed in black on parchment paper with an ASNT seal in raised gold, signed by the ASNT President and the Chairman of ASNT's Certification Management Council. The certification will either carry endorsement stickers signed by the ASNT'S Manager of Technical Services or it will have a computer generated list of test methods, which shows the expiration date for each test method.

B. A plastic or laminated wallet card, signed by ASNT's Manager of Technical Services, showing the test methods in which the holder is certified and the expiration date of each method.

Because improper claims of NDT qualifications can invalidate contracts, damage quality and reputations and jeopardize lives, ASNT encourages all interested persons to verify the certification status of anyone claiming to hold ASNT NDT Level III certification. Verification may be quickly obtained by contacting the ASNT Technical Services Department at (614) 274-6003, or fax (614) 274-6899.

2. American Petroleum Institute www.api.org

Certified Personnel Status Verification. This is available on their individual web site.

This feature allows you to verify current status of certification for an individual. You need to know their full name in order to perform the search.

API strives to maintain accurate, reliable, and current information on certification. However, inadvertent mistakes may exist in the data base. If you discover an apparent mistake or discrepancy, please contact the Individual Certification Program at (202) 682-8064.

The API Certification is printed on parchment paper with the certification type, certification number and the original certification date along with the expiration date of the reference certification. A wallet sized card is also issued to the inspector.

3. American Welding Society www.aws.org

QuickCheck online is a quick way to verify current AWS Certified Welding Inspector and Certified Welder numbers. Plug in the Certification number and get immediate results. Each Inspector receives a printed certification with the certification number and expiration date of the certification. It is also signed by the President of AWS as well as the Chairman of the Qualifications Committee and the Chairman of the Certification Committee. The Inspector will also receive a laminated wallet card with the certification number, expiration date and information regarding the results regarding the inspector's need for any corrective eye wear.

Confined Space Entry

We all know of the dangers in any confined space. Many inspections are conducted in these areas and most companies have appropriate measures and responses for handling these entries. However   accidents continue to occur. Constant training and the updating of procedures is an absolute necessity. Theses accidents continue to happen with tragic results.

There is an interesting way to find confined space accidents and their causes. OSHA has a web site just for that purpose. Go to www.osha.gov then go to statistics and then "Accident Investigation Search"

Here are a few recent examples to include in a tool box safety briefing. All of them happened in 2010.

1. A worker was lowered into a 30 to 35 foot deep shaft to perform hand cleaning and to drill a sample test of the rock. He was being lifted out of the shaft by the use of a pneumatic winch system. The winch system collapsed into the shaft, striking the worker. Cullman, AL

2. Workers were coating the interior of a trailer tank; fumes ignited from the trailer tank, causing a flash fire. One worker fatality and two workers were hospitalized. Angelton, TX

3. Worker had entered a soil hopper system while the auger was rotating. Worker's clothes were caught in the rotating auger, pulling the worker's body into the auger. New Summerfield, TX

4. Workers were replacing a vent line on top of a tank battery. They were exposed to hydrogen sulfide gas. One worker fatality and three workers were hospitalized. Big Spring, TX

5.  Worker was cutting a 55-gallon steel drum with an acetylene torch to make it a burn barrel. The barrel was not vented, and the isopropyl alcohol at the bottom of the barrel exploded from the top, dousing the worker, and engulfing him in flames. Havana, FL