News - Testex

Health and Safety Executive Approve New and Revised Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs)

Many people are exposed to a variety of substances at work (e.g chemicals, fumes, dusts, fibres) which can, under some circumstances, have a harmful effect on their health. These are classed as ‘hazardous substances’. If exposure to a hazardous substance is not properly controlled it may cause ill health in a number of ways. In January 2020, the Health and Safety Executive approved new and revised workplace exposure limits (WELs). Details of the changes came into force on 17 January [...]

Introducing the New Innovative, TesTex Asset Integrity Management System!

Over the last 30 years we’ve continued to develop our technology, techniques and training to the highest standards, meeting and exceeding customer expectations. An ethos which, since introducing our Asset Integrity Management Service led us to identify the need for a an easier to use, more innovative Asset Integrity Management system. We wanted something with all the functionality customers would expect, but not as complex as other systems currently on the market. After consultation with customers, Integrity Managers and in [...]

Summary of Engineers Breakfast Meeting- Equipment Inspections and AIM Software

Thank you to all those who attended our most recent Engineers Breakfast Meeting and to everyone who has expressed interest in future events. For those of you who missed it but would like to know what was covered, here’s a quick summary… The Importance of Inspections from a Cat 1 perspective Nick Girdham, experienced Cat 1 Inspector presented on the subject covering, The importance of Written Scheme of Examinations (WSE’s) Imminent dangers and how to accurately assess How to achieve time savings and acceptable [...]

It’s National Apprentice Week 2020!

It’s National Apprentice Week 2020 a chance to celebrate the positive impact of apprenticeships across the UK. Here at TesTex we have a lot to celebrate and to be proud of. Investment in technology and training are a core part of our business and are essential to us delivering on our reputation for high quality NDT and Inspection services. As a company we’ve found that apprenticeships have mutual benefits and are keen to continue recruiting, supporting and training new apprentices. Benefits to [...]

A View from SHEQ – what to watch out for in 2020

As a SHEQ Coordinator, it’s vital to keep abreast of corporate, regulatory and legislative changes including, general updates related to Health & Safety, Environmental and Quality issues. This blog piece looks at some of the recent changes you might need to consider as we begin the new year. Safety Working at Height Falls from height continue to be the biggest overall cause of death in the workplace. The latest HSE statistics for 2018/19 reveal 40 deaths from such accidents. This means it remains as [...]

Protecting Buried Pipework from Corrosion – Part 1

At TesTex we hold quarterly Engineers Breakfast Meetings where we meet with local engineers to discuss issues they may be facing and work together towards solutions to this. One of the recent subjects was ‘Managing Pipework Integrity’. As part of this heading there was further debate into how to protect buried pipework and the methods currently available for this one of which is looking at the options for field applied external coating. About Field Applied External Coating The Majority of [...]

HSE Safety Alert

Catastrophic Rupture of Dead-Leg Pipework The HSE have circulated a document warning Process Plant Operators of the increased risks of primary containment loss associated with dead-legs that are present in process pipe-work systems. Background “A recent failure on a UK refinery involved an 8” diameter vertical relief line, approximately 5m in length, which catastrophically failed during normal operation part way along its length, releasing approximately 75 tonnes of extremely flammable material at elevated temperature and pressure. Connected to an insulated process header [...]

Welcome to Lynne Adamson- SHEQ Co-ordinator

We’re pleased to welcome Lynne Adamson, our new SHEQ Co-ordinator. Lynne brings with her years of experience in SHEQ and project management roles within the engineering industry. Her previous roles have included, SHEQ Co-ordinator and QMS Lead Auditor for Jacobs Field Services and Project Co-ordinator at Smith & Nephew. Lynne has achieved her QMS Lead Auditor, IOSH Managing Safely, Prince 2, a Degree in Business & Leadership, Masters credits in Project Management and is currently completing her NEBOSH. Lynne’s role is [...]

Responsive Solutions to Industrial Tube Inspections

Over the past few months our UK Tube Inspections Department have been extremely busy, so much so, we decided to compile a list of facts and statistics to demonstrate the work we’ve done… Our technicians have inspected in excess of 25,000 tubes Over 209 units – 158 Shell & Tube Heat Exchangers, 49 FinFan Air Coolers and a couple of boilers for good measure Approximately 94 miles of tubes were inspected We used over 22 Inspection Systems including IRIS, Eddy Current, Remote Field, [...]

Asset Integrity- Evolving Systems for Industrial Plants & Refineries

As industry progresses through technological advancement, some Plants and Refineries, be it chemical, manufacturing, oil or other, have become increasingly complex in design, using more hazardous chemicals and potentially more dangerous processes. Plants that are now 50+ years old still operate using earlier technologies and now, as we see the materials changing in ways that weren’t foreseen, they need a different approach to risk and extending the life of their plant assets. If carried out correctly good Asset Integrity Management [...]