Radiochemistry and Uranium Laboratories
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HAZEN RESEARCH, INC. Analytical Department Superfun4Recoi er SITE: J 4601 Indiana St., Golden, CO 80403 303-279-4501 BREAK: OTHER: QUALITY MANUAL Radiochemistry and Uranium Laboratories Policies and Procedures Established to meet NELAC Quality Systems Standards Reviewed, Acknowledged, and Approved by: Signature Date Bill Youngclaus Bench Chemist Richard Oberto Senior Chemist Ann Strapac Lab Technician Eve DelaFuente Group Supervisor s* 'A*/ Robert Rostad Laboratory Manager John C. Jarvis Laboratory Director QA Officer Eleventh Revision, 3/8/2000 Quality Manual Page 1 Radiochemistry Laboratory Revision 11 Hazen Research Inc. 3/8/2000 TABLE of CONTENTS 1.0 Laboratory Description and Quality Statement 1.1 Laboratory Profile 4 1.2 Management Quality Statement 4 1.3 Laboratory Organization 5 2.0 Personnel 2.1 Job Descriptions and Responsibilities 5 2.2 Training 5 2.3 Resumes 6 2.4 Director's Certifications 6 2.5 Employee Signatures and Initials 6 3.0 Facilities 3.1 General Description 6 3.2 Hazen Campus Map 7 3.3 Analytical Department Floor Plan 7 4.0 Licenses and Laboratory Certifications 7 5.0 Methodology 5.1 Standard Operating Procedures 8 5.2 Radium-226 (ZnS scintillation counting) 8 5.3 Radium-226 (alpha spectrometry) 8 5.4 Radium-228 8 5.5 Thorium-230 9 5.6 Polonium-210. 9 5.7 Lead-210 10 5.8 Gross Alpha, Beta 10 5.9 Uranium 10 5.10 Radiocesium 11 5.11 Radiostrontium. 11 5.12 Tritium 12 5.13 Radon 12 5.14 Method Exceptions and Departures 12 5.15 Employee SOP Certification 13 continued next page Quality Manual Page 2 Radiochemistry Laboratory Revision 11 Hazen Research Inc. 3/8/2000 TABLE of CONTENTS Page 2 6.0 Equipment and Instrumentation 13 7.0 Reference Standards and Traceability 13 8.0 Sample Management 8.1 Sample Preservation 14 8.2 Sample Receiving, Acceptance, and Log-in 16 8.3 Sample Storage and Disposal. 16 8.4 Chain of Custody 17 9.0 Data Management 9.1 Worksheets, Calculations 17 9.2 Data Validation 17 9.3 Reporting 17 9.4 Storage and Disposal of Records 18 9.5 Security and Confidentiality 18 10.0 Quality Management 10.1 Instrument Checks 18 10.2 Batch Quality control 19 Control Standards 19 Duplicate Samples 19 Spikes 19 Blanks 20 10.3 Acceptance Criteria 20 10.4 Corrective Action s 20 10.5 Proficiency Testing ____ _ 21 10.6 Internal Audits 21 10.7 Customer Complaint s 21 11.0 Appendices Appendix A Organizational Chart 22 Appendix B Method Proficiency Demonstration Form 24 Appendix C StafFResumes 26 continued next page Quality Manual Page 3 Radiochemistry Laboratory Revision 11 Hazen Research Inc. 3/8/2000 TABLE of CONTENTS Page 3 Appendix D Hazen Campus, Analytical Lab Floor Plan ..33 Appendix E Detection Limits and Sample Volumes 36 Appendix F Sample Acceptance and Log-in Flowchart. 38 Appendix G Chain of Custody and Sample Receipt Forms .41 Appendix H Worksheets, Reports 44 Appendix I Security and Confidentiality .47 Appendix J Instrument Control Charts 51 Appendix K Performance Test Procedure, Gas Flow Counter 54 Appendix L Performance Test Procedure, Alpha Spectrometer.... .57 Appendix M Performance Test Procedure, Liquid Scintillation 60 Appendix N Performance Test Procedure, Gamma Spectrometer. 67 Appendix O Performance Test Procedure, Scintillation Counter.. 69 Appendix P Control Standard Chart .72 Appendix Q Duplicate Analysis Chart .74 Appendix R Spiked Sample Tabulation. .78 Appendix S Blank Sample Tabulation .80 Appendix T Internal Audit Checklist 82 Quality Manual Page 4 Radiochemistry Laboratory Revision 11 Hazen Research Inc. 3/8/2000 1.0 Laboratory Description and Quality Statement 1.1 Laboratory Profile Hazen Research Inc. has operated a commercial analytical laboratory for more than thirty years, in support of the chemical, mining, and mineral processing industries. A part of Hazen's laboratory has been devoted to radiochemical assay of environmental and process samples, as a means of monitoring radioactive contaminants resulting from mining and mineral processing operations. This capability has been extended to include a general testing and analysis service available to municipalities, governmental agencies, and private individuals. 1.2 Management Quality Statement The following is excerpted from the Hazen Corporate Statement of Principles and Values: Our objectives are: To achieve and maintain leadership in the business area we serve. To maintain an environment in which employees can find well- paying, stimulating and meaningful work and in which they feel they have an influence over their conditions and future prospects. The following principles will govern our conduct in achieving these objectives: We will maintain the finest staff possible in all job categories. This will be accomplished by a combination of recruiting, training, and specific employee development programs to help employees grow in knowledge and ability. We are dedicated to the concept that quality implies meeting or exceeding the clients' expectations. This concept incorporates the principle of excellence with technical expertise. Implicit in this policy is the need for timeliness, cost control, and excellent client relations. The highest ethical standards will be maintained in service to clients, relations with the community, compliance with the law, and dealings with each other. We will constantly seek ways to increase our productivity. This means finding ways to increase the quantity and quality of Quality Manual Page 5 Radiochemistry Laboratory Revision 11 Hazen Research Inc. 3/8/2000 knowledge produced per client dollar. We will constantly examine our methods in order to be more effective in every aspect of the business. 1.3 Laboratory Organization The Analytical Department Organizational Chart is found in Appendix A. 2.0 Personnel 2.1 Job Descriptions and Responsibilities The following job classifications describe the organization of the radiochemistry laboratory and the responsibilities and minimum requirements of the various levels of activity: The Laboratory Analyst has a minimum of a B.S. degree in chemistry, or related field, and is responsible for performing analyses according to the procedures outlined in this manual. The Radiochemistry Group Supervisor has a minimum of a B.S. degree in chemistry, or related field, and is responsible for training analysts, scheduling work, supervising the application of the quality control measures outlined in this manual, and for reviewing all data produced in the radiochemistry section. The Laboratory Manager has a minimum of a B.S. degree in chemistry, or related field, and is responsible for coordination of activities among the various lab groups, client contact and service, and enforcement of the quality control measures specified in this manual. The Laboratory Director has a minimum of an M.S. degree in chemistry, or related field, and has responsibility of insuring that the laboratory staff is aware of, and acting upon, new regulatory requirements in the field of radiochemistry. The laboratory director will conduct periodic inspections of the quality control procedures being used in the radiochemistry laboratory to insure that they comply with the requirements outlined in this manual. The laboratory director will act as the quality assurance officer for the radiochemistry group. 2.2 Training Training in analytical techniques is generally performed at the Group Supervisor level, or by the individual who is most familiar with the techniques involved. Seminars and formal courses conducted by Quality Manual Page 6 Radiochemistry Laboratory Revision 11 Hazen Research Inc. 3/8/2000 equipment manufacturers and vendors are also used for employee training. The company safety officer conducts yearly OSHA approved training courses on workplace safety. Specialized radiation safety training is given to employees who are working with radioactive materials. Analysts are required to demonstrate proficiency in a method before they are considered trained. This proficiency is documented using the Demonstration of Capability form, a copy of which is found in Appendix B. Employees are required to read the essay entitled Ethics in Science, by Henry H. Bauer. Improper, unethical, or illegal actions on the part of an employee can result in immediate termination of employment. By signing the cover page of this document, the empoyee acknowledges that he or she has read the Bauer essay, and has understood the statement of punishment and penalty stated here. 2.3 Resumes of individuals currently performing radiochemistry lab functions are found in Appendix C. 2.4 The Laboratory Director's Certification of Personnel Qualifications can be found in the QC documentation files located in the radiochemistry office. 2.5 The log o employef e names and initials can be found in the QC documentation files located in the radiochemistry office. 3.0 Facilities 3.1 General Description The Analytical Department consists of approximately 9,000 square feet of finished laboratory space. Additional space is available from adjoining Company operations, and such space can be used for overflow work or special projects. Fume hoods are available for performing evaporations, extractions, acid digestions, and dry ashing. Included are three large stainless steel perchloric acid fume hoods. A dedicated laboratory refrigerator is available for storage of temperature sensitive reagents. Flammable reagents and chemicals are stored in a commercial steel cabinet designed for this purpose. Quality Manual Page 7 Radiochemistry Laboratory Revision 11 Hazen Research Inc. 3/8/2000 Standard laboratory services include bench mounted compressed air, vacuum, natural gas, and 110/220 v electrical supply. A deionized water system, utilizing three mixed bed ion exchange resin tanks in series, provides a high purity water of 2 micro mho per centimeter or less conductivity. This water is used to prepare reagents, standards and dilutions, and to clean glassware. The water is monitored continuously by means of an online conductivity indicator, and is checked daily with a laboratory conductivity meter. The measurements are recorded in a notebook. The analytical laboratory uses five microcomputer workstations operating on a Novell network to standardize laboratory functions.