Infrared Thermographic Inspection

2008-03-17T21:20:00.005+08:00

Some of the risk engineers are trained to carry out the thermographic inspection in client's premises. This inspection is part of the non-destructive test (NDT) to inspect the "hotspot" occured at the electrical connections.

From the photo, we can see the middle cable and its connection emit extensive heat (the white region is the hottest) that eventually will fail the whole equipment. This may be due to loose connections and with preemptive actions such an infrared inspection, the condition can be repaired immediately and the equipment is spered from future damage.

For Insurers who do not have a trained risk engineer in their disposal, they will appoint a third party contractor to do the job for them. In most of the time, the cost for such inspection is borned by the Insurers as part of their value added services.

Sometimes, by agreeing to conduct such exercise will win them some busines over their competitors!

What is thermography?

Thermography is the use of an infrared imaging and measurement camera to "see" and "measure" thermal energy emitted from an object. Thermal, or infrared energy, is light that is not visible or detected by the human eye; it's the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that we perceive as heat. Unlike visible light, in the infrared world, everything with a temperature above absolute zero emits heat. The higher the object's temperature, the greater the IR radiation emitted. Infrared allows us to see what our eyes cannot. Infrared thermography cameras produce images of invisible infrared or "heat" radiation and provide precise non-contact temperature measurement capabilities. Nearly everything gets hot before it fails, making infrared cameras extremely cost-effective, valuable diagnostic tools in many diverse applications. And as industry strives to improve manufacturing efficiencies, manage energy, improve product quality, and enhance worker safety, new applications for infrared cameras continually emerge.

How the infrared camera works

An infrared camera is a non-contact device that detects infrared energy (heat) and converts it into an electronic signal, which is then processed to produce a thermal image on a video monitor and perform temperature calculations. Heat sensed by an infrared camera can be very precisely quantified, or measured, allowing you to not only monitor thermal performance, but also identify and evaluate the relative severity of heat-related problems. Recent innovations, particularly detector technology, the incorporation of built-in visual imaging, automatic functionality, and infrared software development, deliver more cost-effective thermal analysis solutions than ever before.

Previously, the infrared camera will cost you a fortune. Even a second hand camera will cost to about RM100K. This camera usually a bulky type. However, with the technology evolves as we speak, some manufacturers have produce a smaller version cameras just like a handphone.

A to Z about Risk Engineer Profession

2008-02-10T00:02:00.000+08:00

The following are the general descriptions and requirements to be a risk engineer/surveyor. The requirements may differ from one country to another.

Insurance risk surveyors, also known as risk consultants, risk control surveyors and risk control advisers, work for general insurance companies, brokers, or firms of specialist surveyors or even as a freelancer. Their main role is to advise about risk, based on technical knowledge and good practice.

Surveyors undertake detailed risk surveys of the property/site to be insured and advise clients and insurance underwriters about appropriate improvements to reduce the risk. This involves visiting a wide variety of locations and businesses from retail outlets to large-scale petrochemical plants and producing detailed reports, which help inform underwriters about the acceptability and quality of a particular risk.

Surveyors spend about half of their time visiting clients and conducting detailed surveys of the sites to be insured. They often specialised in specific areas, such as:

property;
business interruption;
crime;
liability;
fire protection systems.

Surveyors specialising in property assess the risks associated with fire, explosion, storms, flooding and malicious damage to a building and/or contents based on the processes and activities that take place and other features specific to the location. Surveyors specialising in liability assess the risks to which employers or other individuals are exposed based on the processes and activities that take place.

All surveyors are expected to be competent in the main areas listed above, but may take on the support of specialists for complex cases, for example those that showed a heavy liability risk.

Typical work activities involve:

collating and assessing risk information on site;
using templates to record assessments and collecting photographic evidence;
preparing and proofreading detailed reports, either on site, at home or in the office (reports include recommendations to the underwriter, e.g. additional fire exits, installation or replacement of sprinkler systems or burglar alarms, health and safety improvements, installation of CCTV cameras, etc);
advising clients on site and discussing with them opportunities and requirements to improve the level of risk, or persuading them of the need for risk improvement programmes;
allocating quality grades to the client once improvements have been completed;
accompanying underwriters on site visits to help with their training and development;
liaising with other professionals, e.g. underwriters, brokers, client representatives, inspectors of health and safety and fire officers;
keeping up to date with technical aspects affecting risks, e.g. trade processes, legislation, hazardous materials.

Entry requirements

Some insurers recruit new entrants as trainee risk analysts, but most companies take on new graduates as risk surveyors.

Although a degree is not required for entry into the profession, most risk surveyors are engineering graduates, although some company may accept other degree such as insurance is acceptable. Those who have studied risk management, economics, business studies, law, management, insurance or engineering subjects - a pre-requisite for specialist engineering insurance surveying 1½- may succeed in gaining a training post.

Previous experience in the insurance industry is usually necessary, often in the field of underwriting, and some companies ask for as much as five years' underwriting experience.

Communication skills are key and you also need to be commercially aware, diplomatic and confident enough to deal with a wide range of people, from site workers to managing directors.

What skills and knowledge will I need?

excellent observational skills and attention to detail
an enquiring mind
a methodical approach to gathering information
good communication skills
an assertive but tactful and persuasive manner
an understanding of technical information and plans, and the ability to explain them clearly to non-experts
report-writing skills
computer skills
the ability to work alone and also as part of a team.

The above are the ideal traits to be a risk engineer. Nevertheless, a wishful candidates may not necessarily to have all the requirement at the initial states as the skills can be acquired through on job training.

Prospects

Individual employer companies usually define progression within their own organisation, from trainee roles to senior surveyor positions, heads of department or senior management roles, where the work is likely to be more administrative and strategic.

As you progress, you may choose to concentrate in a specialist technical field, moving into risk assessment in a particular industry or sector.

As the job description and requirement of a risk engineer are almost standard, a risk engineer has a tendency to work around the globe.