CREEC Staff trained in standard lab management practices (ISO/IEC 17025:2005)
Six of CREEC’s laboratory testing staff completed a three day training course labelled “Understanding and Implementation of ISO/IEC 17025:2005-General Requirements for the Competence of Testing and Calibration Laboratories”. This training commenced on 5th to the 7th of August with an aim of equipping participants with knowledge and skills on ISO 17025 management and technical requirements in a move to achieve accreditation at CREEC’s Stoves-Regional Testing and Knowledge Centre, (RTKC), and solar PV laboratories.
Organised by CREEC, the training focused on two main clauses of: management and technical requirements in standards. Management requirements are related to the operation and effectiveness of the quality management system within a laboratory, and this clause has similar requirements to ISO 9001; technical requirements that include factors which determine the correctness and reliability of the tests and calibrations performed in laboratories namely competence of staff; environment control; testing methodology; equipment and measurement traceability; and reporting of test and calibration results.
The training was facilitated by three officials from Uganda Bureau of Standards (UNBS) who included Dr. Safina Gobya, Mr. Aziz Mukota and Ms Proscovia Nalule. Participants were also awarded with certificates of completion at the end of the training. ISO/IEC 17025 is a globally recognised standard that was developed specifically for testing and calibration laboratories that intend to seek accreditation.