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INSPECTOR'S CORNER Life After Certification By Malcolm McNeil I t is a proud and happy day when coating inspectors receive their certification, particularly when it is NACE Level 3. It has taken a lot of time and work to reach this level. Now it is time to apply what you have learned along your path to your certification. This may be as an inspector working for an inspection firm, in a coating facility at a fixed location, or becoming an indepen- dent third party inspector traveling the world. It is easy at this point for a coating inspector to think that once the certifica- tion is acquired, all he or she has to do is go out and perform inspections. It is important for coating inspectors to understand that the learning process does not end when the certification is achieved. It is an ongoing process where experience in the field plays a major role. As a NACE Coating Inspector Level 3 Certified, I have never been on a project where I did not learn something new. Getting my certification was just the beginning. Let's look at some of the various types of projects for which an inspector may be called upon to provide inspec- tion services: bridges, tanks, pipe, flue gas desulfurization units, conveyers, ships, and the list goes on. Many of the inspection requirements for all the listed projects are the same or at least similar. Surface preparation of steel doesn't change a lot from one industry to the next, but the protective coatings to be used may change considerably from one industry to the next. The product knowledge that a coating inspector needs to have in order to do quality inspection work is vast, and it's a continuous learning process. Safety is another issue about which the coating inspector must be knowl- edgeable. As coating inspectors, we are 38 CoatingsPro J July 2012 responsible for our own safety. We also have a "duty of care" to report any unsafe condition we observe so that no one gets injured because of the unsafe condition. The rules for safety on all types of projects would, and do, fill volumes. It is incum- bent on the coating inspector to have a working knowledge of safety require- ments for all projects. The number one cause of death and injury on construc- tion projects is falls. As inspectors, we should obtain the required training so as to be safe, especially when working at heights. Working in confined spaces requires special training and certification, which is not included in most inspection courses. It is up to the individual to get the required training and certification before entering confined spaces. Another area about which inspec- tors must be knowledgeable is standards. New standards are introduced, and existing standards are revised, all the time. As a coating inspector, I must be aware of new standards and revisions of existing standards that af fect my inspection activities. The coatings industry is ever-chang- ing—with new coatings being introduced, new surface preparation tools being intro- duced, new application equipment being introduced, and new inspection tools being introduced every day. It is a coating inspector's responsibility to keep up with all the new tools and processes that come into the industry on a daily basis. The more knowledge an inspector has about all facets of the coatings indus- try, the better inspector he or she will be. There are many sources for informa- tion and further training for all coating inspectors. There are additional courses offered by NACE and other training organizations. There are adult educa- tion courses offered by most all colleges and universities. There are numerous webinars offered by training organiza- tions, manufacturers, and others that are available on the Internet. Public libraries have a multitude of books, both hardcopy and digital versions, that are excellent sources of helpful information for coating inspectors. Many of these resources are at little or no cost to those who are interested in improving their knowledge. There are few excuses for the coating inspector to not take advantage of these opportunities. I encourage every coating inspector to continue with his or her education in as many ways as possible to keep abreast of new developments and changes in existing methods and processes that relate to coating inspection and the coatings industry. Getting the certification is just the beginning. Becoming the best inspector one can be is up to the individual. CP It is important for coating inspectors to understand that the learning process does not end when the certification is achieved. It is an ongoing process where experience in the field plays a major role.