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Environmental Laboratory Assessments - Basic Assessor Training

July 21-23, 2020
Austin, Texas

Course Description:

This course provides examples and a basic understanding of the assessment processes, within the National Environmental Laboratory Accreditation Program (NELAP) framework. The basic principles for assessing environmental laboratories are presented. A summary of the 2016 TNI Environmental Laboratory standards and practical examples for implementation of assessment techniques are an integral portion of this training course.

The rationale for assessing must be based on proven quality principals that allow the determination of adherence to the defined system.  The system standards used during this course are the TNI Environmental Laboratory 2016 standard, and the ISO/IEC 17025:2005 “General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories” standard. Conducting an assessment of a laboratory system using quality principles and techniques allows personnel with a basic science background to assess operations and assure conformance to the stated management system.

The course presents the fundamentals of how to assess laboratories. These fundamentals include:

  • Understanding the difference between assessments, audits, registration and accreditation
  • Effective auditing tips and techniques
  • How to: write findings; prepare and present the assessment report and evaluate findings from laboratories
  • Evaluating laboratory corrective action programs and customer notification requirements.

The course also provides personnel with guidance on assessing quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) requirements to acquire technically and legally defensible environmental data from laboratory operations. The list of references provided in the course materials will further your understanding and provide specific information.

This class does not address the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 standard.

Click here for a PDF containing more information about the course agenda, course notes, what to bring to class, information about the venue, and certificates and CEUs.


Intended Audience:

  • Quality Assurance Personnel
  • Laboratory Assessors

Cost:

$550 per person for Federal, State and Local Governments
$450 per person for Texas TCEQ employees
$750 per person for all others

Prerequisite: Students must read the 2016 TNI EL Standard before coming to class. A pretest is given at the start of class to ensure the students familiarity with these standards.

Bring to Class: Each person is required to purchase a copy of the TNI standard Volume 1 and 2 (2016) and bring your own hardcopy of the printed Materials. Materials include: 2016 TNI Environmental Laboratory Standard Volumes 1 and 2 with ISO language, checklist, exercises and other materials provided prior to the course for students to print and bring to class. Computer use during the exams is not allowed.


Format:
Seminar

Start Date:
Tuesday 21st July 2020, 8:00am CST

Length:
3 days

Presented By:


Marlene Moore

About the Presenter:
Marlene Moore founded Advanced Systems, Inc. in February 1992 as a consulting company specializing in quality systems for laboratory and sampling operations. She brings together the needs of quality system management, measurement operations and regulatory compliance.

Marlene Moore has worked and managed sampling and testing laboratories for over twenty years before providing her expertise to others. Current work includes assessing for laboratory accreditation programs to ISO/IEC 17025 and assessing to ISO/IEC 17065 for conformity assessment certification programs. Assessments are performed for A2LA, ANAB and ANSI. Additional assessor and auditor training was completed under the EPA Safe Drinking Water Program for State certification laboratory auditors for inorganic, organic and microbiology and as an ISO auditor for ISO 9000. Formerly an RAB ASQ/ANSI registered auditor.