- ANALYTICAL SERVICES
- PROCESS MINERALOGY
- MINERALS BENEFICIATION
- HYDROMETALLURGY
- THERMAL PROCESSING
- ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES
- Waste Characterization
- Hazardous Waste Treatability Studies
- Quality Assurance and Quality Control
- Health and Safety
- Waste Characterization for Remediation Processes
- Soil Washing Studies
- ENERGY AND FUEL SERVICES
- BIOTECHNOLOGY
- COMMINUTION
- PILOT PLANT AND OTHER SERVICES
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND QUALITY CONTROL
Hazen applies controls to all research programs to ensure that the resultant data are valid and reliable. Depending upon the project's data quality requirements, a Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP) may be prepared at the outset of a program to delineate the requisite quality assurance measures which include:
- Project Description which identifies the purpose of the test program, the type of work to be performed, and the client's goals and objectives.
- Project Organization and Responsibilities which designate the parties responsible for project management and engineering, establish peer review and technical support personnel and procedures, identify the general health and safety requirements and responsibilities, and establish the coordination links between the client, Hazen, and any subcontractors.
- Quality Assurance Objectives which delineate quality assurance methods to ensure that program objectives are attained, erroneous data are minimized, and accurate conclusions and recommendations are developed.
- Sampling and Analytical Procedures which define the protocols that will be employed in handling and preparing samples for testing and analysis and specify the analyses to be performed, the analytical methods and sensitivities, and the laboratory which will perform the analytical work (if other than Hazen).
- Calibration Procedures which establish calibration for the equipment used in the research program. Equipment for measuring mass, volume, temperature, pressure, and flow rates are considered in the calibration plan.
- Data Collection. Reduction, Validation, and Reporting which delineate procedures for obtaining, consolidating, and reporting accurate data and identify the key personnel responsible for ensuring data quality throughout the research program.
- Internal Quality Control Checks which identify internal procedures to assure that only high-quality data are produced. Standard procedures include operator training, peer review, and technical review by senior personnel for all phases of the program.
- Performance and System Audits which are measures taken by the project team to ensure that the data collected are technically sound. Routine audits are performed throughout the program, from the review of test plans and plant design through data collection and reduction, to a comprehensive technical review of the final program report.
- Corrective Actions which include all methods determined necessary by the project manager to ensure that accurate and valid data are produced from the test program. Corrective actions can include investigating test data to identify possible sources of error, repeating test work, and repeating analyses if required. Repeat work will normally be reviewed and discussed with the client before it is conducted.