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The NDT community, especially in Germany, was shocked by the train accident in Eschede on June 3, 1998. It was all too clear that NDT techniques had not been applied effectively.
Investigation of the circumstances indicated less than ideal quality assurance in the area of safety components [1,2,11]. It was clear that the implementation of a safer system had not been pursued aggressively enough. The astonishing debate about the crack starting from inside of the wheel rim tends to be used as an apology in view of the fact that an outside ultrasonic crack inspection with a somewhat limited reliability had been switched off. It must mentioned that for an in-service inspection at a safety relevant component all kind of possible risks from cracking damages have to be assumed no matter where and how they are generated [12].
There was a great deal of finger-pointing, and the NDT community was not immune, but further investigation will put an end to the speculation and identify those parties who bear the ultimate responsibility for the broken wheel.
This reviewer'a activity increased in response to what appeared to be media manipulation on the part of the Deutsche Bahn. They were very anxious to remove themselves from any suspicion of culpability!
As an example, on N-TV, Dr. Hecht from the TU Berlin said "The best UT techniques are applied in the wheel testing at DB", during the first days after the accident. Government controlled media employees representing news programs like ZDF TV 'Heute Journal' carefully monitored NDT.net and followed forum discussions, and received from us advice and UT lessons on the phone. One scientific journalist of the 'Heute Journal', attempted a serious investigation of the story, but network executives made the decision not to broadcast the material, nor to mention anything about his findings.
All those indicated that even the
transport minister and the German Railway Authority (Eisenbahn Bundesamt -
EBA) felt somehow guilty. It is still not clear whether the wheels
received a certification for operation from the EBA; at that time (1991) the
Deutsche Bahn was operated by the government.
With respect to public
relations another issue needs to be mentioned - the DB is the main
contractor of NDT railway testing equipment in Germany.
This situation raised doubts regarding the impartiality of a formal
government investigation.
I took the opportunity to
speak on Focus-TV, a TV program which tried to shed some light on this story [3]. There was no finger pointing; we just spoke about themes like 'Need of
NDT on such safety relevant
parts' or 'A product is ready only when its quality assurance
concept is ready too' [4].
Why, then, was the DGZfP so insistent that discussion stop, even in our forum? [5]
Especially when we know what a good job DGZfP does in promoting the need
for NDT.
In DGZfP publications, seminars, conferences [6,7,8] we receive a lot of
lessons on the importance of NDT, especially on safety relevant
components. Also the DGZfP committee on "Reliability and Validation of NDE
Methods" with its recent European-American Workshop [9] shows a clear
mission.
DGZfP published concerns on decreasing seminar attendance: "Where is the German industry? Neither German automation testing users nor the advanced service companies were represented. Budget cuts? No, the most likely reason is the expectation that the necessary testing equipment can be purchased at the time it's needed." [10]
It is needed! Not only when a disaster happened - then it is too late - too many human lives can be lost.
The Deutsche Bahn is only one example of a dangerous situation; the time bomb is still ticking [13], in some other rail system, in some other city. The NDT community must mobilize, put pressure on authorities for establishment of standards, third party concepts etc., so that accidents like this can be prevented before they happen.
We hope that the DGZfP will finally practice what it preaches, turning a
good mission in to a real practical daily work, make it happen, and not throw
away good goals because of a surfeit of politics!
Rolf Diederichs
Publisher and Editor of NDT.net
References:
C.O. Bauer, Wuppertal, Apr '97 DGZfP DACH Zeitung
C.O. Bauer, Wuppertal, Juni '97 DGZfP DACH Zeitung
C.O. Bauer, Wuppertal, Okt '97 DGZfP DACH Zeitung
For further information contact:
NDT Internet Publishing
Rolf Diederichs
Tacheniusweg 8
D-32052 Herford
Germany
Phone: + 49/(0)5221/769313 Private
Phone: + 49/(0)5221/769314 Office
Fax: + 49/(0)5221/769731
Email: rd@ndt.net
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