Current through August 26, 2024
(1) EVALUATION
REQUIRED. Except as provided in sub. (4), the department may not issue or renew
an operator's certification to perform any test listed under s.
ATCP 77.02(3) unless, within the year
immediately preceding that certification or renewal, the laboratory passes a
proficiency evaluation for that test.
(2) FORM OF EVALUATION. In a laboratory
proficiency evaluation under sub. (1), an operator shall assign an analyst to
examine samples prepared by an approved evaluator under sub. (3). The contents
of the samples shall be known only to the evaluator. The analyst who examines
the samples shall be an analyst who normally performs that test at the
certified laboratory. The evaluator shall rate the operator's proficiency by
comparing the analyst's results to the known contents of the samples, and shall
report those results and ratings to the department. The reported results and
ratings are rebuttably presumed to be valid for purposes of this section.
(3) APPROVED EVALUATOR. The state
of Wisconsin laboratory of hygiene, or another evaluator approved by the
department in writing, shall be the evaluator in a proficiency evaluation under
sub. (1).
(4) EVALUATION PROCEDURE;
GENERAL. A proficiency evaluation under sub. (1) shall be conducted according
to a standard evaluation procedure which the department approves in writing. An
operator is not required to complete a proficiency evaluation for any test
unless the department has approved a standard evaluation procedure for that
test. A standard evaluation procedure shall include standards for all the
following:
(a) The evaluator's preparation of
proficiency evaluation samples.
(b)
The operator's examination of proficiency evaluation samples.
(c) Deadlines for examining proficiency
evaluation samples and reporting test results.
(d) The evaluator's review and rating of the
operator's proficiency.
(5) DRINKING WATER TESTS; EVALUATION
PROCEDURES. Beginning on July 1, 1999, standard evaluation procedures for tests
under s.
ATCP 77.02(3) shall include the following
requirements:
(a) An operator who is
evaluated for proficiency in testing for total coliform and fecal coliform or
E. coli shall examine at least 10 samples of at least 100 ml. each annually.
The evaluator shall provide full volume samples, or the concentrate and
diluents needed to reconstitute the concentrates to full volume. Each sample
set shall include all of the following:
1.
One to 4 samples of an aerogenic strain of Escherichia coli which, if properly
tested according to methods under s.
ATCP 77.30(1), will test positive for
total coliform and E. coli.
2. One
to 4 samples of Enterobacter sp. or other microorganisms which, if properly
tested according to methods under s.
ATCP 77.30(1), will test positive for
total coliform and negative for E. coli.
3. One to 4 samples of Pseudomonas sp. or
other microorganisms which, if properly tested according to methods under s.
ATCP 77.30(1), will test negative for
total coliform and E.coli.
4. One
to 4 blank samples.
(b)
An operator testing proficiency evaluation samples under par. (a) shall report
the test results to the evaluator. The evaluator shall report the test results
to the department within 40 calendar days after the evaluator mails or delivers
the samples under par. (a) to the operator. For each sample tested, the
evaluator shall report the operator's test result for total coliform and E.
coli, and shall indicate whether that test result is correct or
incorrect.
(c) To pass a
proficiency evaluation under par. (a), an operator shall report the correct
result on 90% of the samples tested, with no false negatives.
(6) FULL CERTIFICATION.
The department may fully certify an operator to perform a test if, in a
proficiency evaluation under this section, the operator meets applicable
performance standards under subs. (4) and (5).
(7) PROVISIONAL CERTIFICATION; SUSPENSION.
(a) If, in any proficiency evaluation under
this section, an operator fails to meet applicable performance standards under
subs. (4) and (5), the department shall issue a notice stating that the
operator's certification to perform that test is provisional.
(b) A provisionally certified operator may
regain full certification by meeting applicable standards under subs. (4) and
(5) on the next 2 consecutive proficiency evaluations.
(c) If a provisionally certified operator
fails to meet applicable performance standards under subs. (4) and (5) on
either of the next 2 proficiency evaluations, the department shall summarily
suspend the operator's certification to perform that test. The department may
fully restore the operator's certification if the operator does both of the
following:
1. Documents the steps which the
operator has taken to correct the performance deficiency.
2. Meets applicable performance standards
under subs. (4) and (5) on a new proficiency evaluation.
