RMS-LB 2018 with 12/20 Revisions

Companion Guidance—Section D CG AARST Companion Guidance RMS-LB 2018 Informational 5 Quality Management Systems for Mitigation Professionals Background: All radon mitigation professionals should establish, document, implement and maintain a Quality Management System (QMS) and continually improve its effectiveness. Be it a single person company, a large firm or when business relationships exist between multiple entities, quality management can be critical to both the financial bottom line and the health and well-being of the customer. For those with growing companies, the larger the volume of work and the more complex the projects are, the more valuable the QMS becomes. This document seeks to introduce the fundamentals of a QMS in a manner consistent the ISO 9001 (the international standard for Quality Management Systems). Portrayed in the most basic and simple terms, a QMS entails: 1) Establishing a Quality Manual (e.g. Quality Assurance Plan). a) The plan begins by defining i) Minimum quality for the system installation and installation process ii) The quality objective (e.g. enhanced safety for the building occupants) b) The plan is then rendered to document processes and procedures aimed at meeting those goals 2) Monitoring and managing the results from work performed (e.g. Quality Control). A QMS consistently compares input information (e.g. the quality policy) to output results (e.g. successes and failures in meeting quality goals). For systems designs, input information includes a host of details such as standards, codes, customer satisfaction, worker safety and each building's design. Once the installation is complete, comparing the outputs resulting from the system (i.e. retest results, standards compliance and customer satisfaction) is critical for evaluating both success and corrections that are needed. More specifically: (From ISO 9001, Section 4.1 "General Requirements" for processes managed by the organization including when an organization chooses to outsource activities) a) determine the processes needed for the QMS and their application throughout the organization b) determine the sequence and interaction of these processes, c) determine criteria and methods needed to ensure that both the operation and control of these processes are effective, d) ensure the availability of resources and information necessary to support the operation and monitoring of these processes, e) monitor, measure where applicable, and analyze these processes, and f) implement actions necessary to achieve planned results and continual improvement of these processes. Consistency with ISO 9001:2008 "Quality management systems" Quality Management Systems (QMS) for Mitigation Professionals • 1.0 Scope; 1.1 General; • 4.1 "General Requirements" • 5.0 Top Management; 5.4 Planning; 5.4.1 Quality objectives: "Quality objectives shall be measurable and consistent with the quality policy" (e.g. System Installation Quality). A QMS begins with two written policy statements on quality. The following statements are examples that are consistent with ISO 9001: 1) System Installation Quality: Mitigation systems that are in compliance with standards, codes and statutes while also, to the extent practicable, achieving customer satisfaction. In addition, all related activities are conducted in a safe manner for both workers and occupants. 2) System Quality Objectives: Mitigation systems that will result, at a minimum, in reducing concentrations to below the target action level and, to the extent practicable, as low as reasonably achievable. In addition, the resulting systems will otherwise not jeopardize the health and safety of occupants or the public.