British institute to offer courses

The Welding Institute of UK, TWI UK Ltd., will offer Level 1 examinations to certify the skills of plant inspection engineers in Abu Dhabi this month.

The course and the examinations are being offered for the first time outside the UK, said Tony Whitaker, Manager of TWI Middle East in Abu Dhabi.

They are part of a Plant Inspection Certification which is a new area of certification recently finalised by the Certification Scheme for Welding and Inspection Personnel (CSWIP) management board in the UK.

There are three levels of plant inspection qualification.

Whitaker said that until now there has been no internationally recognised European system of training and examination, with levels of certification applicable to all areas of industrial processing plant.

"I am hoping that this new programme will attract wide attention in the Gulf oil sector from plant processing inspection companies, quality managers and inspection staff alike," he said. The Level 1 course and exams will be held on March 29 and on April 26 in Abu Dhabi, he said. Entry requirements are varied, depending upon experience.

The training is open to all. However, the exam is open to CSWIP 3.2 senior welding inspectors or holders of ONC (UK Ordinary National Certificate) or equivalent.

Explaining the Level 1 qualification, Whitaker said that it comprises two separate courses, each five days in duration with examination on the fifth day.

The first week of the course will cover Basics of Corrosion, Visual Inspection and NDT modules.

The second week covers the mechanical systems and core plant inspection modules. The CSWIP Level 1 Plant Inspector certification can only be gained upon achieving success in both exams.

The new CSWIP qualification will ensure that plant inspectors have a wide range of knowledge needed for today's industries, It will also provide a well defined and recognised career path for inspection personnel, said Whitaker.