Accreditation vs Certification: Whats the Difference? The following IAS training sessions presented by Dr. Tony Francis have been made available for your viewing. This was raised and discussed at the Asbestos TA meeting and agreed any laboratory undertaking more than 60 samples and 70 points per analyst would be subject to further investigation and the laboratory to justify the approach / acceptance of this number. The level of a qualification indicates the relative complexity and depth of knowledge and skills required to attain the qualification. 4SC queries / complaints, preventive action and improvement. 2 0 obj
Affiliate membership is for companies, organisations and corporations who would like to demonstrate their commitment to improving workplace health. There have been numerous changes since Issue 1 and so these are not highlighted within the document. This accreditation for identification of asbestos fibres will appear as a separate entry on the UKAS schedule of accreditation. E|8ch'{g,o? }ZZ{}'K{{7M/s#cWS,/{iKYoU(*AiMk[P/eylST_*KIi[l It is also an internationally recognised, and the only UK-based, examining board for qualifications in occupational hygiene. The UKAS process for assessing and accrediting the 4-Stage clearance procedure was developed in consultation with stakeholders in 2004. Further details on these qualifications can be found at: BOHS: http://www.bohs.org/education/examinations/proficiency-modules/, ATAC: http://www.atac.org.uk/asbestos-testing-consultancy/asbestos-training-courses.asp, 12. Compliance Consultancy - Fully competent in Asbestos Management holding a BOHS certificate of competence and I am the Local Authority's Asbestos Appointed Person as well . _zk;A1(,J] #\L:tCJo}t04I;M2#_"} %0I'0|.v14QIR J%x d%L w&>%-..8UC_.b6{w>wmWhuZy,Pr+ rS y:eJZZ8rkS+1-eXQ*,4UJEO>J|5Zk Members agreed more guidance is needed (HSG248 app2 wording needs to be improved) and that the policy currently implemented by UKAS (i.e. Delegates are recommended to bring copies of their current Asbestos Management Plan. This assessment policy has been implemented by all assessors since April 09 however it remains difficult for UKAS to pin this on any requirements of HSG248 (although ISO17025 has requirements with respect to pressure / influence on staff). UKAS requires inspection bodies to have at least 1 person in a position of responsibility holding, as a minimum, the S301 and P402 qualifications (supported by knowledge & experience). 11. (b) If the analysis involves removing defined pieces of asbestos-containing material (ACM) from soil samples and analysing these in accordance with HSG 248 then such analysis will be covered by standard UKAS bulk analysis accreditation. As a consequence, as of 14 February 2012, UKAS recognised the following qualifications as suitable in providing evidence towards an individuals competence: * This qualification does not include any report examination and therefore Organisations need to ensure training has been provided to allow surveyors to write/produce survey reports and determine their suitability. revisiting a site immediately or soon after the COR has been issued to be undertaken more frequently than the LAB 30 requirement to audit staff) and also consider the analysts utilising visual media (photographs / video) to record the cleanliness of the area post stage 4 of the process. Therefore the following points provide clarity on this matter: (a) Asbestos in soil is covered by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, and therefore if a laboratory is offering an asbestos testing service with respect to soil samples then accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 is required. Members also agreed the upper limit does need to be considered. However, it does recognise that work will be required in order to ensure the programme is fully effective in determining the competence of asbestos surveying on marine vessels, and in meeting relevant international guidelines and requirements as well the minimum requirements of ISO/IEC 17020. The Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH) Level 3 Certificate in Asbestos Inspection Surveying; The BOHS Certificate of Competence in Asbestos; Cert Occ. An organisation undertaking asbestos analysis in bulk material samples shall undertake monthly in-house air measurements within the laboratory. References to the Control of Asbestos Regulations have been updated to the 2012 version; S301 replacement criteria for Inspection Bodies. There must be no problem with moisture if the workspace is in a basement. UKAS must also be made aware of temporary site office / laboratories set up for longer term contracts (those >8 weeks) e.g. [3] BOHS P403 Qualification (September 2010) However, there is an apparent degree of uncertainty regarding the mandatory status of accreditation with respect to analysis of asbestos in soil. [13] ASBESTOS SURVEYING: Reissue of ISO/IEC 17020 and HSE Guidance HSG 264 If a laboratory (such as a soil testing laboratory) is visually checking soil for signs of potential ACMs for its own. A transition plan for bodies currently accredited to ISO/IEC 17020:1998, or in the process of being accredited, is currently in place. The additional QC was still being undertaken as per HSG248 however the person undertaking the QC was also undertaking 70 samples per day. The subsequent pilot scheme was based on a programme to support the requirements of MDHS100 in non-domestic premises. This grade of membership is open to those who hold the BOHS Certificate of Operational Competence in Occupational Hygiene or the international version of the qualification. Staff undertaking the analysis shall hold the BOHS P401 qualification (or equivalent) as a minimum. Anyone wishing to carry out asbestos air monitoring and clearance work including 4-stage re-occupancy certification following asbestos removal and treatment works. Our surveyors are all P402 qualified and have at least two years experience with the majority having. Thisisa level 5qualificationin the BOHS qualifications framework, equivalent to NVQ Level 5. Asbestos testing of bulk materials how many samples? The following items are included in this bulletin: Independence within the 4-Stage Clearance Process Policy Review. This issue was discussed and documented within the UKAS Asbestos Technical Advisory Committee meeting minutes (July 2009), and these minutes are available on the UKAS website.
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BOHS S301 Asbestos and other fibres - Compare the Course The revised HSG248 will strengthen the language and the revise the points / numbers currently documented. She has individual membership of the British Occupational Hygiene Society (BOHS) and the Society of Brownfield Risk Assessment (SoBRA) and is a Licentiate of the Faculty of Asbestos Management (LFAAM). @BOHSworld
Taken directly from the minutes: UKAS outlined the issue that arose out of a nonconformity raised at a laboratory where staff had been processing up to 150 samples per day (each), although the lab in question had identified this as a problem, the ceiling limit on samples per analyst per day (before investigation was to be undertaken) was deemed not acceptable by the UKAS Team. Assessors are requesting more reanalysis during annual visits and are finding some issues here, amounts of cargille liquid being used is also checked as is those labs where NAD samples are not being included in the pointing. [c3EB6
It is common knowledge that testing laboratories in the UK need to be accredited to ISO/IEC 17025 by UKAS in order to provide an asbestos testing service: This is a specific requirement of CAR: 2012.However, there is an apparent degree of uncertainty regarding the mandatory status of accreditation with respect to analysis of asbestos in soil.Therefore the following points provide clarity on this matter: Staff undertaking analysis of asbestos by stereo-microscopy, polarised light microscopy and dispersion staining (e.g. Successful delegates are presented with the BOHS proficiency certificate. If you areawarded theCertificate of Competence in Asbestos, youareentitled to use CoC Asbestosas post-nominal letters afteryour name. @BOHSworld
In 1996 he passed the asbestos P-Cert (now W504) and in 1999 passed the Certificate of Competence in asbestos. Asbestos testing electron microscopy. Therefore dependent on feedback from stakeholders, if sufficient support for such a programme is received then UKAS will look at the viability for setting up a development project and steering committee to take this forward. S301 replacement criteria for Inspection Bodies endobj
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Successful completion of the course provides the candidate with an International Proficiency Certificate in Surveying and Sampling Strategies for Asbestos in Buildings from the BOHS (British Occupational Hygiene Society). 0v*!L!+{Qoa~/@kL{'3x*RX(MQD^1%Nv{j* Ckeezvv{}.xf6sOr! As one of the primary Regulators in this area, it is important to take account of the views of HSE, whose response was in favour of leaving the policy as it was, on the grounds that independence and impartiality of the analyst is seen as a key element in ensuring external influences are minimised. Rather Laboratories undertaking fibre counting (including classification/identification of fibres) should participate in the SEMS PT scheme. All rights reserved. The Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012, ACOP para 340, requires an employer (carrying out their own measurements or employee exposure monitoring) to ensure that employees carrying out this work receive similar training supervision and quality control to those required by ISO/IEC 17025.
13. During this time he also completed an MSc in Environmental Management. (c) LAB 30 clause 15.1.1 and 15.1.2 Internal QC schemes need to be established and implemented by organisations undertaking asbestos testing by electron microscopy. All of our certification materials are completely app-ready so they can be accessed from any smartphone, tablet, or desktop . This is the first step for those wishing to gain professional recognition as an Occupational Hygienist. Therefore the UKAS policy on requiring the analyst to be independent of the body commissioning the clearance remains. This was raised and discussed at the Asbestos TA meeting and agreed any laboratory undertaking more than 60 samples and 70 points per analyst would be subject to further investigation and the laboratory to justify the approach / acceptance of this number. This level of membership is for those who have established their competence in the field of asbestos by obtaining the BOHS Certificate of Competence in Asbestos. The report shall clearly state the matrix of the sample being that of the ACM. <>
The first proposed limit 70 samples / 90 points was rejected by UKAS as unacceptable, this level of work still AVERAGED sample times as 6 mins per sample considering standard breaks in an 8 hr shift, however the laboratory struggled to understand why this was an issue.
Professional Certification Branch - California power stations, and sites including non-UK domicile locations. 60 samples / 70 points) is acceptable. However, more recently Asbestos Testing and Consultancy (ATAC) submitted a proposal to the UKAS Asbestos Technical Advisory Committee requesting that its newly developed qualifications, administered by Royal Society for Public Health (RSPH), also be formally recognised. To help with the section regarding specific projects or activities download the guidance here. She also sits on BOHS' board of examiners for the Certificate of Competence in Asbestos, and as such is responsible for advising on the technical content of all BOHS asbestos-related exams. If an Inspection Body (IB) is accredited for management surveys then reinspections (as undertaken to comply with Reg 4 of CAR L143) are covered by its accreditation.