June 2010

Measurement Uncertainty and Traceability Webinars a Success

AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Programs, LLC conducted two successful webinars for its accredited laboratories on measurement uncertainty (MU) and traceability (one on March 11; the other on April 30). These “free” webinars allowed technical experts to disseminate information to at nearly 225 participants in both sessions. Slides from the webinars can be found now on our website—  click here.  We will also post a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document on the website by July 12.  

In the meantime, accredited laboratory staff should familiarize themselves with the MU and traceability policy policies and related guidance documents. This is especially important for laboratories with upcoming assessments since site assessors have been will be reviewing and documenting MU and traceability against the revised policies and writing deficiencies around the policies as needed.

AIHA-LAP, LLC Activities at AIHce

AIHA-LAP, LLC had a strong presence at AIHce 2010, which was held in Denver, Colo. May 22–26, 2010. The following is a recap of the activities:

• The Analytical Accreditation Board (AAB) had a meeting on May 22 where they discussed important policy changes, internal audit findings, and developments related to international recognition.
• The LLC’s newly-formed Strategic Advisory Group held its first meeting on Sunday, May 23 and discussed revisions to its strategic and business plans.
• On May 23, approximately 40 AIHA-LAP, LLC volunteers and customers participated in the first ever Accreditation Forum where they received updates on LLC operations and strategic directions. Past Chief Site Assessor Ron Peters reviewed the 2010 accreditation policies with a focus on measurement uncertainty and traceability. At the networking reception held immediately after the technical presentations, AAB Chair Dave Sandusky, CIH, announced the 2009 AIHA-LLP, LLC award winners. We wish to congratulate the following award recipients:
• Harriotte A. Hurley Award: AAB Member Edward A. Stuber, CIH
• Newton Whitman Award: TAP Member Linda G. Neimor
• Past Chair Award: AAB Member Pamela A. Kostle, CIH
• Evan Campbell Award: Site Assessor Sandra L. Moore, CIH
• Past Chief Site Assessor Award: Ronald H. Peters, CIH
• LLC Recognition Award: Site Assessor Maureen K. Hamilton, CIH
• Finally, at least 28 laboratories accredited by AIHA LAP, LLC had display booths in the AIHce Expo Hall and most reported they had good “booth traffic” and networking opportunities at the show.   

For more information on the LLC’s activities at AIHce, please contact Senior Operations Manager Margie Breida at mbreida@aiha.org.

Strategic Advisory Group Formed

The following members have been appointed to serve on the first AIHA-LAP, LLC Strategic Advisory Group:   Dave Kahane, CIH, Forensic Analytical, Joe Unangst, Galson Laboratories, and Robert Lieckfield, CIH, Bureau Veritas.  When the AIHA Board formed the LLC, they established this group to give input to the LLC Director on how to move it forward on strategic and business matters. AAB Chair Dave Sandusky and Vice Chair Chris Powell also serve as members of this group. For more information on the Strategic Advisory Group’s efforts, please contact Cheryl Morton at cmorton@aiha.org.

World Accreditation Day Celebrated

June 9, 2010 marked World Accreditation Day, a global initiative jointly established by the International Accreditation Forum (IAF) and International Laboratory Accreditation Cooperation (ILAC) to raise awareness of the importance of accreditation-related activities. As an associate member of ILAC and an accrediting body seeking entry into the ILAC Mutual Recognition Arrangement, AIHA-LAP, LLC joined other accreditation bodies in celebrating this day. Most of the management team attended a meeting with other U.S. accreditation body staff to discuss important ILAC issues and other concerns of domestic accreditation bodies. AIHA-LAP also posted several ILAC-related documents on our website to help our accredited laboratories explain the benefits of accreditation to their customers (see sidebar link called ILAC documents on our site).
AIHA-LAP also congratulates the following laboratories that have been accredited by AIHA (and now AIHA-LAP, LLC) since the establishment of the Industrial Hygiene Accreditation Program in 1974:

• 100044 ESA Laboratories, Inc.
• 100045 Liberty Mutual Group
• 100066 MIT Industrial Hygiene Lab
• 100124 The Hartford Loss Control Laboratory
• 100468 U.S. Army Public Health Command
• 100551 Marine Chemist Service
• 100880 GrafTech International Holdings, Inc.
• 100915 NIOSH/DART/Chemical Exposure and Monitoring Branch
• 100967 Bureau Veritas North America
• 101048 University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory
• 101066 ACL Industrial Toxicology Laboratory
• 101140 Bureau Veritas North America
• 101574 ALS Laboratory Group, Environmental Division (Salt Lake City, UT)
• 101823 Oregon OSHA Lab
• 101875 RJ Lee
• 101887 State of Washington
• 102530 University of Iowa

We hope that our laboratories celebrated World Accreditation Day in some special way.

For more information, please contact Cheryl Morton at cmorton@aiha.org.

Reminder About Significant Changes

Per Policy 3.8.1, accredited laboratories are reminded that they are required to report significant changes within 20 business days of the change. The following changes need to be reported to AIHA-LAP, LLC staff:

• Personnel changes that include technical manager and quality manager. Check Policy 2A.5 and the specifics of your accreditation program to ensure that these positions fulfill the qualifications outlined.
• Facility location and/or ownership—not only is it required by Policy 3.8.1, but your accreditation covers only the laboratory as named on the certificate of accreditation and the facility address as listed.

Help us keep you current. If your laboratory is not receiving invoices, e-mail announcements, or reaccreditation correspondence, please contact us to verify your address and primary/billing contact. If you have any questions regarding significant changes, please contact Chris Sacdalan at csacdalan@aiha.org.

Seeking New AIHA-LAP, LLC Volunteers

Application Deadline Extended to July 30

AIHA-LAP, LLC is seeking qualified volunteers to fill positions on the Analytical Accreditation Board (AAB) and the Technical Advisory Panel (TAP). New members will begin their terms in January 2011. The deadline for application submission has been extended to July 30, 2010.
 
The AAB oversees the governance and processes related to laboratory accreditation, including responsibility for approving applications submitted for accreditation and reaccreditation once site assessments are conducted. AAB members are also responsible for approving policy changes and participating on ad hoc task forces.
 
TAP members advise the AAB on technical laboratory matters and review 20 percent of all accreditation applications for the major programs: industrial hygiene, environmental lead and environmental microbiology. TAP members conduct a thorough assessment of the accreditation process steps to ensure conformance with policies and technical requirements. See www.aihaaccreditedlabs.org/Pages/VolunteerLeadership.aspx for AAB and TAP applications.

Volunteering is an excellent opportunity to network with your peers and to contribute to the programs. For additional information, please contact Margie Breida at mbreida@aiha.org.

New Accreditation Logos Required by July 1

This is a reminder that as of July 1, 2010, laboratories using the AIHA-LAP, LLC logo(s) in their advertising are required to use the 2010 logos. Please also note the terms of advertising (effective April 2010) as listed in AIHA-LAP, LLC Policy Module 7:

• 7.1.1 AIHA-LAP, LLC accreditation or affiliation may be referenced by use of 1) a statement of AIHA-LAP, LLC accreditation with Laboratory ID number, and/or 2) the AIHA-LAP, LLC Laboratory ID Number, and/or 3) the AIHA-LAP, LLC accreditation logo with Laboratory ID number.
• Language for use in advertising —7.2.1 "_____ Laboratory (ID ______) is accredited by the AIHA Laboratory Accreditation Programs (AIHA-LAP), LLC in the _____ accreditation program(s) for _____ Fields of Testing as documented by the Scope of Accreditation Certificate and associated Scope." (Blanks are to be filled with the applicable terms, as listed on the accreditation certificate.)
• AIHA-LAP, LLC accredited laboratories may also use the following statement in conjunction with 7.2.1 in their communication media discussing the laboratory only. (7.2.2) “AIHA-LAP, LLC accreditation complies with the ISO/IEC Standard 17025:2005 requirements, but this does not imply ISO certification or registration.”
• 7.2.3 Laboratories with multiple locations must clearly identify the location of the accredited laboratory(s) and their applicable accreditation programs in their communication media.
• 7.5 All uses of the AIHA-LAP, LLC accreditation logo must be accompanied by the laboratory identification number (Laboratory ID :______), which must appear directly beneath the accreditation logo.
• 7.6.3 The laboratory shall not display a statement of AIHA-LAP, LLC accreditation or the AIHA-LAP, LLC accreditation logo on products. Furthermore, a statement of AIHA-LAP, LLC accreditation or the AIHA-LAP, LLC accreditation logo may not be displayed on communication media or any other laboratory materials that are outside the scope of accreditation for which the laboratory is accredited by the AIHA-LAP, LLC.
• 7.6.7 Accreditation by AIHA-LAP, LLC does not imply that a product, process, system or person is approved by AIHA-LAP, LLC. Accordingly, a statement of accreditation or an AIHA-LAP, LLC logo may not be used in manner suggesting or implying that a product, process, system or person is approved or certified by AIHA-LAP, LLC or that AIHA-LAP, LLC is otherwise certifying something other than the laboratory itself.

For more information to share with your sales/marketing/advertising representatives, click here to see Module 7 of the Policies.

Please note that Sage Morgante, Marketing and Communications Manager, has resigned from her position at AIHA-LAP, LLC to pursue another career opportunity. Until this position is replaced, please direct all calls about the Licensing Agreements for use of the logo to Chris Sacdalan at csacdalan@aiha.org. Questions about the proper use of logos and/or the advertising policies should be directed to Heather Thompson at hthompson@aiha.org. 

Laboratories Accredited March–April 2010