1.
Roles and Safety/Health of Technicians Involved in Non-Destructive Testing
1.1 Importance of non-destructive testing
Non-destructive testing (NDT) refers to tests conducted to non-destructively evaluate the soundness
and internal condition of materials, equipment, and structures. In addition to AE testing (AT), non-
destructive tests include visual testing (VT), radiographic testing (RT), ultrasonic testing (UT), magnetic
testing (MT), penetration testing (PT), eddy-current testing (ET), strain testing (ST), leak testing (LT),
and infrared thermography testing (TT). An optimal test is selected from among these tests according to
test objects and purposes. Several tests are combined to use when high quality levels are required. The
purposes of NDT include establishing manufacturing techniques and reducing manufacturing costs, but
the most important purpose is to prevent any serious accident that causes injury to people or causes
environmental contamination when a product breaks during use. To prevent the breakage of a product, it
is important to verify the validity of a product design and thoroughly ensure the product strength during
production. It is also important to detect degradation such as cracking and wall thinning of the product
that exceeds an acceptable criterion for the design and to repair the product as needed to ensure quality
during use. NDT is a method of detecting cracking and wall thinning that reduce strength of equipment
during production and use of the product, as well as a method of evaluating the product’s integrity; NDT
is thus a critical means for ensuring the reliability of the product. An NDT technician’s lack of expertise
will result in improper testing and increase the risk of a serious disaster resulting from oversight or
underestimation in the case of cracking or thinning. Therefore, NDT must be conducted by a sufficiently
skilled technician. Past investigations of serious accidents show cases in which false reporting and
falsification of test results contributed to such accidents. The NDT technician must recognize the
importance of his/her duties, be aware of his/her social responsibility, and carry out the duty with a sense
of ethics and pride.
1.2 Role of a Level 1 technician as specified by ISO9712
The qualification and certification systems for NDT technicians have been established on the basis of
the ISO international standard ISO9712. According to this certification system, if an technician passes a
qualification test and satisfies the given conditions, he/she will be certified as a Level 1, 2, or 3
technician. An NDT technician's role depends on the NDT level, and duties that can be carried out at
each level and the required ability are defined. The duties of NDT level 1 technician are given as
follows.
(1) Duties acknowledged for NDT Level 1 technicians
Any technician certified as an NDT Level 1 technician must be able to carry out the following duties
under the supervision of a Level 2 or Level 3 technician.
(a) Prepare NDT equipment for AE testing
The technician can install and adjust AE devices, sensors, preamplifiers, and cables.
(b) Operate NDT equipment
For AE testing, the technician can conduct tasks such as device setup.
(c) Implement NDT for AE testing
The technician can acquire and analyze data under the measurement conditions of the procedure.
(d) Record NDT results
In AE testing, the technician can record data and results of data analysis.
(e) Classify and report NDT results in accordance with documented acceptance criteria
In AE testing, the technician can determine acceptance/rejection, classify grades, and report the results
in accordance with documented acceptance criteria.
(2) Responsibilities of Level 1 technicians
The NDT Level 1 technician is not accountable for the selection of NDT methods or techniques. The
Level 1 technician assumes the duties mentioned above, but the preparation of NDT instructions,
equipment adjustment and calibration, and interpretation and evaluation of NDT results that the Level 1
technician does not have to conduct are the duties of Level 2 or higher Level technicians. The selection
of NDT methods or techniques is the responsibility of a Level 3 technician. It is important for all
technicians to fully understand their own duties in detail and to note that their duties do not differ from a
set of specified duties.
1.3 Health and safety for NDT technicians
In recent years, AE testing has been increasingly carried out in petroleum refining facilities and
energy plants. Because there are many potential dangers in such work environments, careful attention
must be paid to safety at these kinds of sites.
(1) Caution in equipment handling
When technicians handle measurement devices, they must carefully read instruction manuals for the
devices and avoid the occurrence of electric shock and fires caused by faulty handling. Particular
attention should be paid to the following general matters.
(a) Do not connect/disconnect power and signal plugs with the power on
In AE testing, if a power plug or signal cable is mated or demated when an AE measurement device is
powered on, there are risks of device failure, electric shock, and spark-induced fire. It is critical to never
make this mistake.
(b) Do not disassemble an AE measurement device
The AE device and its peripheral equipment include built-in power sources and exposed electric wires.
Therefore, removing their covers or disassembling the devices may cause electric shock or fire. Never
disassemble the devices.
(c) Always connect the AE measurement device to an earthed wire
The insulation of an AE device and its peripheral equipment may reduce upon the ingress of dust or
moisture into the devices, thereby causing a risk of electric leakage and shock. Therefore, it is necessary
to connect a device to an earth wire before using it.
(2) Work at high elevations
In the AE testing of a large structure, technicians sometimes ascend to an elevated spot (height
exceeding 2 m) to install a sensor or other device. In this case, it is desirable to place a scaffold in
advance. When a stepladder or ladder is used, it is necessary to firmly fix the ladder to avoid the risk of
falling. A technician must not ascend/descend to the spot while carrying equipments by hand. Further,
when the technician works at an elevated spot, they must wear a safety belt and ensure that they are held
by a rope in case of a fall, while paying careful attention to their activities.
(3) Prevention of explosions
Plants such as oil refining and gas production facilities, where no flame is permitted, may be
required to use explosion-proof equipments. Before the implementation of AE testing at these sites, it is
necessary to discuss the specifications of measurement devices with the people in charge to prevent an
explosion. In actual activities, laws/regulations and safety provisions in each plant shall have priority
over general precautions for the abovementioned measurement.
Before carrying out AE testing, it is also important to provide an opportunity for a preliminary
review of the test, determine danger factors, and establish countermeasures. It is important to obtain to a
wide range of opinions and reassess the work environment from various perspectives.
