From Training to Trust: Reducing Laboratory Risk Through Competency Evaluation

Best Management Practices for Environmental Laboratories
Oral Presentation

Prepared by C. Baldridge
Enthalpy Analytical, 931 W. Barkley Ave, Orange, CA, 92868, United States


Contact Information: [email protected]; 714-771-6900

ABSTRACT

Laboratories face a wide range of operational risks in their daily operations, many of which are directly tied to employee performance. Critical activities, such as sample preparation, when not performed carefully and consistently, can compromise client samples, leading to data quality issues and damage to the laboratory’s reputation. Compounding this risk, many employees who perform sample preparation activities enter the environmental laboratory with limited experience or contextual understanding of the methods they perform. While controls such as peer-led training, documentation, and routine batch quality control are essential, they may not be sufficient to detect gaps in competency or understanding. Deliberate evaluation of training effectiveness during an employee’s first 90 days are crucial in the detection of gaps before data quality is compromised. This presentation will provide an overview of risks associated with employee performance and examples of strategies for evaluating both trainers and the trainees. Effective training and monitoring result in a more robust training program and more confident and knowledgeable employees.