THE DUTIIES OF A WELDING INSPECTOR:

My duties as a welding inspector are involved before, during and after welding.

Before welding:
 All applicable documents are checked;
 Application standard is up to date with the latest edition, revision or amendment;
 The drawings is clear and issue number is marked;
 Welding procedure sheets (specifications) is available and has been approved as required
by authority and is employed in production;
 Welder qualification with identification and range of approval are verified and that only
approved welders as required are used in production;
 Safety permits such as gas free (entering enclosed space) certificate, hot work permit are
available and valid;
 Calibration certificates, material certificates (mill sheets) and consumer certification are
available;
 Quality plan is authorized and endorsed with signature, date and company stamp;
 Parent material identification is verified against documentation and markings;
 Material composition, type and condition are checked;
 Identification of welding consumables such as electrodes, special drying requirements for
electrodes, filler wires, fluxes, shielding and backing gases are verified correct;
 Plant and equipment are in a safe condition and adequate for job;
 Correct methods are applied in cutting and machining;
 Dimensions, tolerances, preparation, fit-up and alignment are in accordance with approved
drawings;
 Cleanliness is maintained;
 Preheating for any tack welding is in accordance with specified procedure;

During welding:
 Welding processes such as root pass and tack welds must be monitored and inspected;
 Welding should be completed without undue interruption and within specified period;
 Hot pass must be timed;
 Essential variables such as current, voltage, travel speed and number of runs must be
monitored;
 Inter-pass cleaning, temperature and run sequence should be inspected (roving
inspection);
 Welding is in compliance with welding procedure sheet and application standard.

After welding:
 Dimensional accuracy must be checked;
 Visual inspection is carried out to ascertain acceptability of appearance of welds;
 Post weld heat treatment if any should be monitored and recorded.
 NDT report is assessed;
 Delayed inspection is carried out 72 hours later to check hydrogen (H 2) cracking;
 Factors influencing the formation of weld defects and their acceptability in relation to the
written specification are appreciated.
 If repairs are required then:
1. Procedures and welder codes should be authorized.
2. Defect area should be marked out positively and clearly.
3. Partial and fully removal should be monitored with visual inspections and NDT.
4. Re-welding should be monitored and re-inspected (visual and NDT)

Collate all documents and reports, pass on for final inspection, approval and storage.