Safety Alert: CEMHD 1 – 2018 – Personnel certification in non-destructive testing (PCN) scheme fraud (link)
The British Institute of Non-Destructive Testing (BINDT) administer a widely accepted certification scheme for operator competence, the Personnel Certification in Non-Destructive Testing (PCN) system. Certification is given for traditional and more recently introduced testing techniques, and the scheme is accredited by the United Kingdom Accreditation Service. In June 2017, BINDT took action to correct a fraud that had been perpetrated by NDT International PTE Ltd (NDTI), a PCN-Authorised Qualifying Body (AQB) operating in India and elsewhere.
This affected the AQB, its managers and all PCN certificate holders that had acquired certificates through examinations conducted by NDTI. In all, over 3000 PCN certificate holders were affected; with most working in the oil and gas sector in the Middle East.
As a result, NDT International PTE Ltd’s Approved Training Organisation (ATO) and Authorised Qualifying Body (AQB) status was withdrawn at a number of locations and sites. BINDT also required the affected PCN certificate holders (mostly working in the oil & gas sector in the Middle East region) to submit to re-examination if they wished to reacquire their PCN certification.
BINDT subsequently indicated that, on 26 December 2017, all certificates affected by the NDT International PTE Ltd situation that were not successfully re-examined or granted an extension were withdrawn.
Source: HSE.