Rope Access Discussion

[bluenose]

Hi guys, I have a few questions about the differences between working in Canada and working in the UK.

I've just started my NDT career out in Alberta, Canada a few months ago and should have my Canadian CGSB level 1 UT, level 2 MPI/LPI within the next few months as well as level 1 visual weld inspection (CWB).

I'm thinking of applying for a 2 year working holiday commonwealth visa and spending some time doing NDT work in the UK.

Could anyone tell me if my Canadian certs will be recognized there? Would they be transferable if I wanted to go from level 1 to level 2 UT?

How about working conditions/environment in the UK? The pay? Could I work lots of OT like I do here? I work mostly in fab shops here in Alberta and will likely spend sometime up north in the oil sands before I go anywhere.

Just wondering what I can expect if I decide to work in the UK.

Thanks for any help guys

[waterat]

You might be out of luck, bro'....
I have a CGSB Level 2 in dye pen, and a certain very well known North Sea service company told me it is not acceptable for use...this is despite the fact that CGSB certification is to ISO 9712 and EN 473 standards, and accepted as such elsewhere.
It seems that UK companies are too parochial and short sighted in their spec approval, and state PCN or ASNT, without realising of course that PCN is purely an issuing body, and not the actual NDT standards to which you have been examined....
Flip side to this of course is that while living in Canada I used my PCN issued MPI ticket with no problems...
Of course, PCN will probably give you a conversion ticket....at a price.....

[admin]

Good advice there Waterat, Bluenose, looks like you are indeed out of luck. ASNT / PCN are the norm in Europe. Most of the operating companies (BP,SHELL, TEXACO etc) insist on it - helps keep their certification easier to manage. Amongst other reasons, they claim it would be a nightmare for them to administer if there were dozens of other certification schemes to monitor.

No doubt there will be a conversion available - at a price as Waterat explained - but it may be worth paying if you are planning to do a reasonable amount of work in Europe PLUS you'll be able to use your tickets all over Canada / US.

[waterat]

One other thing there, Bluenose...you and I both know that a Bluenoser is someone who hails from the Maritimes, but over in certain parts of the UK it has an entirely different meaning, and be a good thing or a bad thing depending on what foot you kick with religiously speaking...very sad I know, but too true I am afraid...

[Jim Gill]

Hail Hail, that's all I have to say for my 2.3 points!
Sorry 2.55pts.

[bluenose]

Thanks for the advice guys.

waterat, I'm from Dartmouth, do you know of any inspection companies in the Halifax area that hire for short term contracts? I'll have my level 2 MPI in a few weeks and should have CEDO and LPI by July. Looking to spend a sometime down home during the summer (miss the ocean!)

Cheers

[waterat]

Try TJ Engineering & Inspection (Bruce St, Dartmouth) or perhaps PV Inspection over in Burnside for starters....can't remember the numbers but they will have a website.... I was in Cole Harbour myself...