La. Admin. Code tit. 33 § I-4901

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 9, September 20, 2024

Section I-4901 - Laboratory Staff for All Programs Covered by These Regulations

A. Managerial Staff. The laboratory shall have the managerial staff with the authority and resources needed to discharge their duties. The technical director or his/her designated representative shall be a full-time member of the laboratory staff who has the authority to exercise the day-to-day supervision of the laboratory policies and procedures. The laboratory shall be organized in such a way that confidence in its independence of judgment and integrity is maintained at all times. The laboratory shall specify and document the responsibility, authority, and interrelation of all personnel who manage, perform, or verify work affecting the quality of calibrations and tests. Such documentation shall include:

1. a clear description of the lines of responsibility in the laboratory;

2. personnel proportioned such that adequate supervision is ensured. An organizational chart is recommended; and

3. job descriptions for all positions.

B. Laboratory Technical Director

1. Academic Training. The laboratory technical director must have a bachelor's degree in science or a minimum of four years' equivalent experience in a related field.

2. Experience. The laboratory technical director must have a minimum of two years' experience in the area of environmental analysis.

C. Quality Assurance Manager

1. Academic Training. The quality assurance manager must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in science or four years' equivalent experience in a related field.

2. Experience. The quality assurance manager must have a minimum of two years' environmental laboratory experience.

3. Reporting Authority. The quality assurance manager must have direct access to the highest level of management for decisions regarding laboratory quality assurance policy and resources. He or she must have independent authority regarding quality assurance oversight and implementation of the quality assurance program. This organizational position must not report through the technical management of the laboratory. The quality assurance manager must have the opportunity and freedom to evaluate data objectively without influence from technical or financial management.

4. Technical Knowledge. The quality assurance manager must have a general knowledge of all analytical methods that are performed by the laboratory.

5. Small Laboratories. In smaller laboratories (staff less than 10 total employees), the quality assurance manager's responsibilities may be performed by an upper level technical or operational manager of the facility. Academic and experience requirements apply.

D. Supervisors

1. Academic Training. Supervisors must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree or a minimum of four years' experience in a related field.

2. Experience. Supervisors must have a minimum of one year of experience in the area to be supervised, preferably with a minimum of six months' supervisory experience.

3. Radiochemistry. If the individual is supervisor of a radiochemistry laboratory, the individual must have a minimum of four years' experience in the field/area of radiochemistry; however, each year of additional college-level training in related fields may substitute for one year of experience, up to a maximum of two years.

E. Instrument Operators

1. Academic Training. Instrument operators must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent and satisfactory completion of a short course or structured in-house equivalent on the operation of the instrument (by equipment manufacturer, professional organization, university, or other qualified training facility).

2. Experience. Instrument operators must have a minimum of six months' experience in the operation of the instrument with documentation that acceptable results are achieved by the operator (performance evaluation and quality control samples successfully analyzed).

3. On-the-Job Training. During on-the-job training to fulfill the requirement for experience, the data produced by the operator shall be deemed acceptable when validated and reviewed by a qualified instrument operator and/or laboratory supervisor.

F. Analyst

1. Chemistry Procedures

a. Academic Training. An analyst must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent, plus proper training in a methods training course or by a qualified analyst.

b. Experience. An analyst must have a minimum of six months' laboratory experience with the analysis procedure(s) with documentation that acceptable results are achieved by the analyst (performance evaluation and quality control samples successfully analyzed).

c. On-the-Job Training. During on-the-job training to fulfill the requirement for experience, data produced by the analyst shall be deemed acceptable when validated and reviewed by a qualified analyst and/or laboratory supervisor.

2. Microbiological Procedures

a. Academic Training. An analyst must have a minimum of a bachelor's degree in science or four years' experience in a related field. He or she must have training in water analyses for total coliform and fecal coliform, a minimum of a high school diploma, or the equivalent, and satisfactory completion of a short course or structured in-house equivalent on the proper techniques of analysis.

b. Experience. An analyst must have a minimum of six months' experience in microbiological analysis and techniques.

3. Radiological Procedures (Gross Alpha, Gross Beta, and Specific Radionuclides)

a. Academic Training. An analyst must have a minimum of a high school diploma or equivalent, plus specialized training in standards and sample preparation, instrument calibration, calculations, and data handling.

b. Experience. An analyst must have a minimum of six months of on-the-job training. An analyst may assist in routine sample preparation and radioanalytical procedures provided that the work is supervised and validated by a qualified analyst and/or laboratory supervisor.

4. Biomonitoring Procedures

a. Academic Training. An analyst must have a minimum of a high school diploma, or the equivalent, and documented training by a qualified analyst. EPA video training tapes should be utilized where available.

b. Experience. An analyst must have six months of on-the-job training with documentation of acceptable results from standard reference toxicant tests performed by the analyst.

c. On-the-Job Training. During on-the-job training to fulfill the requirements for experience, data produced by the analyst shall be deemed acceptable when validated and reviewed by a qualified analyst and/or laboratory supervisor.

G. Information on the relevant qualifications, training, and experience of the technical staff shall be maintained by the laboratory.

H. The laboratory shall provide additional training as needed in order to keep personnel current with new procedures, changes in existing procedures, and/or equipment changes or improvements.

La. Admin. Code tit. 33, § I-4901

Promulgated by the Department of Environmental Quality, Office of the Secretary, LR 24:922 (May 1998), amended by the Office of Environmental Assessment, Environmental Planning Division, LR 26:1436 (July 2000).

AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 30:2011.