We continue with this article that refers to the key aspects that certify the capabilities, roles and competencies of a coating inspector.
by Eng. Nicolás F. Oriundo De la Cruz*
In the first part we describe the role of the coating inspector and the knowledge he must have to face all kinds of professional challenges. We continue to highlight other types of factors you should know and the skills you should develop.
Degradation of coatings: as we know all coatings over time age, so it is important to have a vast knowledge of coatings that allows us to estimate the time needed to perform the respective maintenance according to the specific environments where they are located.
Now with the new laws and trends concerning the protection of the environment and human security, the following must be considered:
Knowledge of health and safety factors, every aspect of work in the surface treatment process will always exist health, safety and environmental risks, whether for the worker or the environment. That is why the coating inspector must be familiar with those risks associated with the work and the available risk assessments.
As mentioned in a previous item, it is necessary to know about the current legislative norms that govern the project, which will depend on the geographical area where it is located.
Solid waste disposal methods, today there are various methods for the disposal of solid waste, the inspector must have the required information about the different wastes that will be produced during the surface treatment process, this can include abrasives, solvents and paints.
Coating Inspector Skills
Once the project is started, a paint inspector, apart from the knowledge, must have a number of qualities that will be of great importance during the time you remain in the project, which can be detailed below:
Experience is a primary quality, especially in large-scale projects where you can focus everything you have learned during your career as an inspector; in addition to being able to nurture with all this knowledge the contractors, external engineers and the end user who are involved in the work.
Qualification, In order to ensure compliance with the technical specifications of the project, it is commonly that the coating inspector has a certification that enables him as a specialist in the subject, there are entities that accredit this such as NACE, SSPC or FROSIO.
Technical criteria, of great importance during the surface treatment process, the inspector must have the necessary technical criteria at the time of paralyzing a work or at the time of raising observations or non-conformities, for this, he must have the technical explanation that supports it.
Observer, the inspector must have the ability to observe well the quality of the work performed, observing its conformity or deviation from the technical specification.
Firmness, a very important quality when presenting observations to the work and especially in non-conformities, a coating inspector must have firmness when raising observations to the work and stay in position always with an adequate technical support. Their job is to enforce the specifications of new or maintenance projects.
Diplomacy, the coatings inspector must have a professional management of the relations between the contractor and with the end user, with the double objective of not encouraging confrontations and generating cooperation between both parties in the various tasks that are developed during the project.
Equanimous, the coating inspector, during the duration of the project must behave as a straight, impartial or neutral person and above all who does not usually get carried away by the emotions of the moment.
Communication skills at all levels, it is very important that the inspector has the quality of correctly transmitting the information in a clear and precise way, for this he must possess at least the basic communication skills whether oral, written and even non-verbal.
In practice many of the inspectors will not possess all these attributes, others will have some qualities more developed than the rest; the important thing is that you know how to use all of them correctly and thus avoid confrontations since this could lead to it being ignored at the time of the advice or suggestion that can be given.
It is also important that, for professional ethics, avoid socializing inappropriately with the other parties to the contract since situations can be misunderstood and the professional can be mixed with the personal when coping with a problem in the surface treatment process.
By professional ethics, avoid socializing inappropriately with the other parties to the contract as situations can be misunderstood.
A person who is in the initial processes of basic training or in the case of an inexperienced inspector should not be allowed to perform such jobs without proper supervision from one with more experience in these jobs as an inspector.
* Eng. Nicolás F. Oriundo De la Cruz, General Manager OF SCC Ingenieros y Consultores S.A.C of Peru. NACE Inspector Level 1 CIP N° 39046. You can contact him by email [email protected] or by phone: +511 9878 16879.
