Welcome to the 'Frequently Asked Questions' pages of our
website. As a Proficiency Testing provider for over 20 years, HSE
Testing and Monitoring has considerable experience in dealing with
customer enquiries regarding all aspects of proficiency testing. We
have gathered together the most commonly asked questions with their
answers. This is designed to answer most routine enquiries, but we
appreciate that not all eventualities are covered here. If you
can't find the question or answer you are looking for, please
e-mail it to us via proficiency.testing@hse.gov.uk
and we will be happy to help.
General
1. How are your schemes organised?
2. Where do you source your test
materials?
3. Where do I find the scheme Information
Book for Participants?
4. How do I join a scheme?
5. How often do I need to
participate?
6. Can I participate in only one
round?
7. Can I still participate if the round has
already started?
8. Can you guarantee my laboratory's
confidentiality?
9. Do you use Advisors or Steering
Committees?
10. How can I receive advice and
feedback?
Payment
11. What are the fees for
participation?
12. What are my payment options?
Courier
13. How are HSL PT test materials packaged
and transported?
Analysis & Reporting
14. Do I have to use specific methods to
analyse the test materials?
15. When will I receive my samples?
16. How long do I have to analyse the
samples?
17. Do I have to report my results within a
specific timescale?
18. How do I submit my round
results?
19. How do I access my round
results?
20. I have forgotten my Online Data Entry
Password, what should I do?
21. What do I do if I submit the wrong
results?
22. Can I have an extension?
23. How quickly can I receive my
results?
24. I want to query my results how do I do
this?
25. How do I get copies of past round
results?
26. Where do I get a copy of the group
reports?
27. I want to appeal against my score how do
I do this?
AIMS Stock Samples
28. I am a new laboratory, how can I become
accredited more quickly?
29. Can you provide samples for training
purposes?
Further Help
30. I can't find my answer here - how do I
contact you?
General
1. How are your schemes organised?
The day-to-day operation of each scheme is the responsibility of
HSE's Proficiency Testing Team. Individual schemes are managed by a
team of PT Scheme Coordinators, to cover reporting, customer
service and technical functions.
Return to General Questions
2. Where do you source your test materials?
The test materials are prepared and/or manufactured by HSE
Testing and monitoring. Where this is not possible, test materials
are carefully sourced to meet the needs of the specific PT scheme.
Wherever practical, test materials will be as similar as possible
to those routinely tested by participating laboratories. However,
in some cases, in order to achieve the required degree of
homogeneity and stability, test materials may be in the form of
simulated matrices. The range of materials will be varied from
round to round in order to be realistic and challenging.
Return to General Questions
3. Where do I find the scheme handbook?
A copy of the AIMS Information Book for Participants can be
found on the Useful
Links Section of the AIMS page.
Return to General Questions
4. How do I join a scheme?
Participants are advised to participate in the scheme(s) that
are most appropriate to their own area of testing. Where necessary,
staff at HSE Testing and monitoring can advise on which scheme is
most suitable for participants. For each scheme, an order
form is available please email proficiency.testing@hsl.gsi.gov.uk
stating which scheme you would like to join.
Return to General Questions
5. How often do I need to participate?
The AIMS schedules can be found on the Useful Links
Section of the AIMS page.
Participants enrol for the whole year of the schemes as scoring
is generally cumulative.
Return to General Questions
6. Can I participate in only one round?
Due to the scoring systems it is not possible to only
participate in one individual PT round, performance is assessed
over a series of rounds ( detailed in the AIMS Schedule).
Return to General Questions
7. Can I still participate if the round has
already started?
It may still be possible to join in the current round if it has
already started, providing you are confident that you can receive
the samples, analyse and submit the results by the deadline. To
request an order form, please email us.
Return to General Questions
8. Can you guarantee my laboratory's
confidentiality?
In order to ensure confidentiality, participants in all HSE PT
schemes are allocated a unique HSE PT laboratory number. This
number enables results to be reported without divulging the
identities of participant laboratories. Only the HSE PT team and
the laboratory itself know this number. Results and participant
details are submitted to the scheme administrators in confidence
and are not revealed to any third party except where required to do
so by law, for example in association with a criminal
prosecution.
Return to General Questions
9. Do you use Advisors or Steering
Committees?
Yes depending upon the scheme in question. Advisors are selected
on the basis of their technical knowledge and experience of the
industry to which the scheme is related. Advisors may be used on an
ad-hoc basis and contacted when specific issues need to be
addressed. Alternatively, formal committees may be used. In the UK,
the Fibre Proficiency Testing Steering Committee (FPTSC) consists
of members who may or may not be participants on the AIMS and/or
RICE schemes but who are experienced in the field of testing
covered by the asbestos PT schemes. This committee reports back to
HSE and UKAS via it's parent committee the, 'Committee for Fibre
Measurement' (CFM). The composition and terms of reference of each
committee is agreed on a scheme-by-scheme basis. Membership of the
FPTSC is subject to change but current committee members' names and
details of the committee will be made available shortly.
Return to General Questions
10. How can I receive advice and feedback?
Communication with participants will be carried out through
scheme-related documentation, e-mails, letters, newsletters, memos.
From time to time open meetings may also be organised and
interested parties will be invited to attend.
Return to General Questions
Payment
11. What are the fees for participation?
Fees for participation are reviewed annually and the current
fees for each scheme are available on application. Payment terms
are detailed on the order forms and invoices. Participants are
advised that delays with payments may result in test materials and
reports being withheld until full payment is made.
Return to the Payment Questions
12. What are my payment options?
- You can call us on
0203 028
3382
![]()
- You can make a BACS payment
- We can send you an invoice.
Return to the Payment Questions
Courier
13. How are HSE PT test materials packaged and
transported?
Test materials are sent in appropriate packaging and under
conditions intended to protect the contents during transit. In the
case of the AIMS scheme, all test materials are sent using a
licensed courier. Overseas customers must provide relevant
documents to prevent delay in customs such as import permits and
may be required to pay import duties locally. Once packages have
been delivered, HSL cannot be held responsible if they subsequently
fail to reach the correct personnel. Participants are asked
to check the contents of packages immediately on receipt and to
contact HSE's PT team if there are any problems with the condition
of the test materials received.
Return to the Courier Questions
Analysis & Reporting
14. Do I have to use specific methods to analyse
the test materials?
No specific test method is required for the analysis of the AIMS
samples, although in the UK it is recommended that the method used
in a laboratory be based on the HSE publication HSG248 'Asbestos:
The analysts' guide for sampling, analysis and clearance
procedures'. Participants are asked to treat the PT material in the
same way as a routine test material. Please refer to the AIMS Information Book
for Participants for further more detailed guidance.
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Questions
15. When will I receive my samples?
Programme schedules for AIMS can be found here.
Return to Analysis & Reporting
Questions
16. How long do I have to analyses the
samples?
The specified schedule for AIMS can be found here.
However, in general, participants have approximately 20
working days to analyse their samples.
Return to Analysis & Reporting
Questions
17. Do I have to report my results within a
specific timescale?
HS Testing and montoring asbestos PT scheme round information is
sent to participants along with their samples and the deadlines
(see AIMS schedule). Round deadlines are specified for the return
of results, to ensure the timely issue of individual round result
scores and reports to participants. For the AIMS scheme, submission
of results is through the online data entry system, which closes
down on the specified deadline date. Participants will not be able
to submit late results on the new online system.
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Questions
18. How do I submit my round results?
Results for the AIMS scheme are submitted using the HSE Asbestos PT online
data entry system. Participants are supplied with unique
usernames and passwords upon joining the scheme. Results are
entered through this system and results and individual reports are
also accessed from the online system using the same unique
username/password combinations.
Return to Analysis & Reporting
Questions
19. How do I access my round results?
Results are calculated and released approximately 15 working
days after the closure of a round. Participants log onto the HSE Asbestos PT online
system in the same way as when entering results and if results
are available they can be viewed and printed from the list of open
rounds. Participants should be aware that delays with payments may
result in test materials and reports being withheld until payment
is made.
Return to Analysis & Reporting
Questions
20. I have forgotten my Online Data Entry
Password, what should I do?
Please email the
proficiency testing team to request a reminder. Reminders
will only be sent to the laboratory contact that we have on our
records. No passwords will be given by telephone.
Return to Analysis & Reporting
Questions
21. What do I do if I submit the wrong
results?
If the AIMS round has not closed, participants can access the
online data entry system as many times as they wish and can change
submitted results right up to the deadline. Part of the proficiency
testing process is the correct completion of result forms and
accurate submission of round results. If the deadline has passed
and the round has closed, unfortunately there is nothing that can
be done if results have been incorrectly submitted and the results
cannot be changed. It is the participant's responsibility to ensure
they submit the correct results onto the system. Should the wrong
results for a participant be entered, the issue can be highlighted
to the relevant accreditation body and further advice regarding
reporting of results and quality control processes may be
obtained.
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Questions
22. Can I have an extension?
AIMS is now using an online data entry system which
automatically closes at midnight (GMT) on the results deadline
date. Extensions to a PT round deadline may only be granted
in extreme circumstances, this is at the discretion of HSL and may
not always be given. Participants should abide by the scheme
schedules and plan their participation to adhere to the scheme
guidelines and defined dates available on the HSE Testing and
monitoring PT web pages.
Return to Analysis & Reporting
Questions
23. How quickly can I receive my results?
The defined dates for the issue of results can be found on our
schedule. An email will be sent to
participants to let them know that they are available to view online.
Return to Analysis & Reporting
Questions
24. I want to query my results how do I do
this?
Any query concerning the asbestos content of a sample, after the
results have been published, should be sent in writing. Queries
regarding round scores for AIMS must be sent to the AIMS PT
administrator within 20 working days of the date of issue of round
reports. The AIMS PT team will carry out initial investigations
following receipt of written queries. Appeals against penalty
scores are investigated in the first instance by the AIMS PT team
and a response sent in writing by email to the participant. To
fully investigate a sample regarding asbestos content queries, the
sample must be returned to HSE Testing and
monitoring at the participant's own cost by a licensed courier.
Return to Analysis & Reporting
Questions
25. How do I get copies of past round
results?
Results for previous rounds of AIMS are available on the HSE PT online data
entry system where participants can access, view and print off
copies of past round individual reports. Participants must be aware
that failure to pay scheme fees will result in this service being
unavailable.
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Questions
26. Where do I get a copy of the group
reports?
AIMS group reports are accessible to download on the HSE PT online data
entry system.
Return to Analysis & Reporting
Questions
27. I want to appeal against my score how do I do
this?
Queries, appeals and complaints against round scores must be
made in writing to the PT administration team. These will be
forwarded to and considered by the FPTSC at the next available
meeting. The query, appeal or complaint will be acknowledged and
the participant will be informed of receipt and the date for
consideration. The decision of the FPTSC will be sent to the as
soon as possible. If the participant then wishes to appeal against
this decision, then this also must be in writing to the AIMS PT
administrator. The further appeal will then be considered at the
next meeting of the FPTSC's parent body, the Committee of Fibre
Measurement (CFM). The participant will be informed of the process,
and can make further submissions prior to the meeting. The CFM's
decision is final and the participant will be informed of the
outcome in writing.
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Questions
AIMS Stock Samples
28. I am a new laboratory, how can I become
accredited more quickly?
You should contact your assessor to get advice. If you
require additional samples to help with your accreditation, please
contact us
for order form.
Return to AIMS Stock Samples
Questions
29. Can you provide samples for training
purposes?
Yes, we can provide these samples. If you would like an
order form or further information, please contact
us.
Return to AIMS Stock Samples
Questions
Further Help
30. I can't find my answer here - how do I
contact you?
Please email your query to proficiency.testing@hse.gov.uk.