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
handbook?
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 HSE 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. What do I do if I submit the wrong
results?
20. Can I have an extension?
21. I want to query my results how do I do
this?
22. What score is satisfactory/
unsatisfactory?
23. What are my options if my score is
unsatisfactory?
24. How do I receive my round report?
25. How do I get copies of past round
reports?
26. I want to appeal against my score how do I do
this?
RICE QC Samples
27. I am a new laboratory, how can I become
accredited more quickly?
28. Can you provide samples for training
purposes?
Further Help
29. 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 RICE handbook can be found here.
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 RICE schedules can be found here.
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 ( RICE 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 contact
us.
Return to General Questions
8. Can you guarantee my laboratory's
confidentiality?
In order to ensure confidentiality, participants in all HSL 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 Payment Questions
12. What are my payment options?
You can call us on 0203 028 3382 to make a payment by credit/
debit card (I'm afraid we don't currently accept American
Express).
You can make a BACS payment
We can send you an invoice.
Return to Payment Questions
Courier
13. How are HSL PT test materials packaged and
transported?
Test materials are sent in appropriate packaging and under
conditions intended to protect the contents during transit.
Samples for the RICE scheme are sent using Royal Mail Next Day
Delivery service, 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 slides
received. Please Note: It is extremely important if you
receive slides and there are breakages you must inform the HSE PT
Team immediately.
Return to Courier Questions
Analysis & Reporting
14. Do I have to use specific methods to analyse the
test materials?
The test method used to analyse the RICE slides is based upon
HSG248 'Asbestos: The analysts' guide for sampling, analysis and
clearance procedures' using the WHO counting rules. Further
information can be found in the RICE
handbook.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
15. When will I receive my samples?
Programme schedules for each of RICE can be found here.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
16. How long do I have to analyse the samples?
The specified schedule for RICE can be found here. However, participants have
approximately 20 working days to analyse their samples.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
17. Do I have to report my results within a specific
timescale?
HSL asbestos PT scheme round information is sent to participants
along with their samples and the deadlines (see RICE
schedule). Round deadlines are specified for the return of
results, to ensure the timely issue of individual round result
scores and reports to participants.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
18. How do I submit my round results?
A result form will be emailed to you at the start of each round
(an Excel spread sheet). All relevant fields must be
completed and the form returned to the proficiency.testing@hsl.gsi.gov.uk
before the deadline date for your laboratory.
Participants must ensure that the file name of the spread
sheet is not changed in any way.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
19. What do I do if I submit the wrong results?
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.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
20. Can I have an extension?
No not routinely, only in extreme circumstances will an
extension to a PT round deadline be granted, this is at the
discretion of HSE 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 PT web pages.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
21. I want to query my results how do I do this?
Any query regarding slide counts or reference values after the
results have been published, should be sent in writing. Queries
regarding round scores for RICE must be sent to the RICE PT
administrator within 20 working days of the date of issue of round
reports. The RICE PT team will carry out initial investigations
following receipt of written queries. Appeals against penalty
scores are investigated in the first instance by the RICE PT team
and a response sent in writing by email to the participant.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
22. What score is satisfactory/ unsatisfactory?
Please see our Information Book for Participants for more details
on the RICE scoring system.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
23. What are my options if my score is
unsatisfactory?
If a participant becomes unsatisfactory then it is their
responsibility to contact and seek advice from their relevant
accreditation body.
We may be able to provide additional batches of slides for
training purposes, please note that these are subject to
availability. If you would like to request an order form,
please contact
us.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
24. How do I receive my round report?
Provisional reports will be emailed to customers within (10)
days from receipt of results. Certificates are issued at the
end of each round and will contain performance-scoring relating to
the last four rounds of slide counts submitted. HSE Testing and
monitoring will provide participants with their certificates as
soon as possible at the completion of a round.
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
25. How do I get copies of past round reports?
Past round reports can be purchased from HSE Testing and
monitoring. To request an order form, please contact
us. You will need to return the order form, quoting which
report you require. Please note that full payment will need
to be made in full before your report is despatched.
Participants must be aware that failure to pay scheme fees will
result in this service being unavailable.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
26. 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 them as
soon as possible. If the participant then wishes to appeal against
this decision, then this also must be in writing to the RICE 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.
Return to Analysis &
Reporting
RICE QC Samples
27. I am a new laboratory, how can I become accredited
more quickly?
You should contact your assessor to get advice. If you
require additional slides to help with your accreditation, please
contact us
for order form. Please note that these are subject to
availability.
Return to RICE QC Samples Questions
28. Can you provide samples for training purposes?
If you require additional slides to assist with training
requirements, please contact us for
order form. Please note that these are subject to
availability.
Return to RICE QC Samples Questions
Further Help
29. I can't find my answer here - how do I
contact you?
Please email your query to proficiency.testing@hse.gov.uk