The first thing I suggest to any CWI or SCWI is to learn how to use the grammar and spell check functions that are included with every word processing program. Use them before submitting any written communication to an employer or client. A CWI that wishes to be taken seriously and wants to be treated as a professional must conduct himself as a professional. A SCWI or CWI's written reports and correspondence should exhibit a degree of professionalism which can be aided with a simple spell check before the report is submitted.
Next, you noted that you work in a facility that fabricates per ASME and AISC requirements. Both AISC and ASME require the fabricator to develop and implement a QC/QA program that ensures the customer’s requirements were met. The QC program should include a mechanism that ensures the proper materials were used and where necessary, proper documentation, i.e., material test reports, qualified WPSs, etc. were employed. It sounds as though the system failed in this situation. As QC manager, it should be one of your functions to determine how and why the system failed.
I cannot recollect a single situation where materials supplied to a nuclear site didn’t require complete material traceability. I find it difficult to imagine the project manager or the plant manager in this case didn’t know beforehand material test reports would be required for materials supplied to the site.
As a CWI you are bound to the Code of Ethics (COE) contained in QC1. The COE is a condition of accepting the AWS credential and it applies to the conduct of the individual holding the CAWI, CWI, or SCWI credential. The COE applies to all the work performed by the SCWI, CWI, or CAWI whether it is convenient to do so or not. As such, it would be a breach of the COE for you to sign for work that you do not have firsthand knowledge of.
There are employers that do not understand or they chose not to understand the responsibilities of the SCWI, CWI, or CAWI. The employer is not bound by the COE and therefore cannot be held accountable by the AWS. However, the individual that holds the AWS credential can be and will be held accountable for their actions. You have to ask yourself, “What are my employment opportunities if my AWS credentials are revoked by AWS?”
You did the right thing by refusing to sign for work that you had no firsthand knowledge of. As a CWI you have to make some hard choices. If the employer can back you into a corner and you buckle, you have lost the game. Your employer will “own” you and you will be forced into the corner time after time after time. At some point you will be charged with a breach of the COE and it can cost you your AWS credential.
Your post asks the question, "What would you do?"
I've had similar situations during my career. When the owner or the Engineer failed to work with me to correct the situation, I found a new employer. One situation involved a project where several welders were allowed to weld structural joints connecting primary members even though they were not qualified welders. As a matter of fact, four of the welders had less than one week's experience as welders. When the Engineer was informed of the situation he said it was "OK. Let them keep on welding." I walked off the job and refused to work with that engineer on projects since.
On another project I had a shop supervisor working for me that was a habitual liar. One lie involved an unauthorized repair of a bridge girder. I went to the owner of the company and said the supervisor had to go or I had to leave. I couldn't work with a person that couldn't be trusted. The owner said he couldn't fire a lifetime friend and it will blow over, "give it some time." I loaded my gear and left the company in less than an hour.
At the time it was difficult to justify my actions other than to rationalize by saying it was the right thing to do. Saying "goodbye" to a steady paycheck isn’t easy. However, both experiences have had positive effects on my career. As people say, "Your reputation precedes you."
Best regards – Al
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