N.J. Admin. Code § 7:18-2.14

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 17, September 3, 2024

Section 7:18-2.14 - On-site audits

(a) A certified environmental laboratory or a laboratory seeking certification shall permit and facilitate scheduled and unscheduled audits by the OQA or its designee as a condition of obtaining and maintaining certification. The laboratory shall allow the OQA access to its facility to conduct the audit. A refusal to allow entry is grounds for revocation or denial of certification.

(b) During an on-site audit, a certified environmental laboratory or a laboratory seeking certification shall demonstrate compliance with the Department's standards as set forth in this chapter for performing the methods for which certification is sought.

(c) A certified environmental laboratory that has moved to a new location shall comply with 7:18-2.19. The OQA shall perform an on-site audit at the new location.

(d) During an audit, the OQA shall assess the following: personnel qualifications; working conditions, including adequacy of space; equipment and supplies; organizational efficiency; sample handling and chain of custody; SOPs for quality control operations, methods, and data handling; maintenance of all required records; and compliance with the other requirements of this chapter.

(e) The OQA shall provide the laboratory with a written report listing the deficiencies identified during the audit. The Department may assess penalties pursuant to N.J.A.C. 7:18-10 or suspend or revoke the laboratory's certification (if any), if the audit identifies grounds for such action.

(f) Within 30 days after receiving the audit report under (e) above, the laboratory shall submit a plan to correct the deficiencies. In the plan, the laboratory shall list the corrective actions it will take, and the date by which the corrective actions are to be completed. For a certified environmental laboratory or a laboratory holding temporary approval, the date for completing the corrective actions shall be no later than 90 days after the date the audit report is delivered to the laboratory. For other laboratories, the laboratory may establish the date for completing the corrective actions at its discretion.

(g) The laboratory shall notify the Department in writing when it has completed the corrective actions identified in the plan under (f) above. Failure to correct all deficiencies by the date established in the plan is grounds for revocation or denial of certification.

(h) An out-of-State environmental laboratory shall pay a fee to cover the travel expenses incurred by an auditor during an on-site audit in accordance with 7:18-2.9(f).

N.J. Admin. Code § 7:18-2.14

Administrative change.
See: 28 N.J.R 4098(a).