WHY HAVE A QUALITY ASSURANCE PROGRAM

Radon measurement and mitigation practitioners in Illinois must be licensed to provide these services. One of the license requirements is that applicants for a Professional license submit a full Quality Assurance Program to IDNS for review and approval. The requirements for licensing are outlined in Section 422.60, Requirements for Issuance or Renewal of Licenses of the Adopted Rule.

The primary concern of any individual or company mitigating radon must be the quality of the results. The management of an organization is influenced by the objectives of the organization, by its services and by the practices and policies specific to that organization. Therefore, Quality Assurance Programs vary from one organization to another. A major goal of quality management is to improve the processes so that continued improvement of quality can be achieved. Planning a good Quality Assurance Program, when properly designed and diligently followed, ensures that you will be able to produce the type and quality of mitigation results you need and expect.

A Quality Assurance Program has two components. The first component is its written structure, the quality assurance plan, which establishes all the goals and general procedures of the program. The second component is the documentation, which establishes that all the steps of the quality assurance plan have been followed and the goals of the program have been reached. Together, these components provide the structural support for your licensed activities and provide a documented record of your work, which will validate your performance and help protect you and your customers.

Copyright 2003, Great Lakes Center for Occupational & Environmental Safety & Health, School of Public Health, University of Illinois at Chicago