TRAINING PROGRAM

• Job specific procedures
  
• Quality control principles
  
• Safety
  
• Hazardous waste
  
• Outside Technical Training
  
• Ethics

Job Specific Training

Laboratory supervisors oversee the job specific training of employees in their departments. Each employee has a Personnel Training Schedule that is implemented at the time of hire and is updated as the employee learns new methods and procedures. New employees are given extensive one on one instruction and are required to read all SOP's and methods that are applicable to their assigned tasks. The ability to meet method specific precision and accuracy criteria must be demonstrated before an employee is certified to perform a method. Instrument output is also evaluated to certify that an employee has been adequately trained in instrument operation. Ongoing training includes such items as reading new and used SOP's and annual ethics training along with the items discussed below.

Quality Control Principles

Quality control (QC) principles and requirements are a universal aspect of training for all NCL technical staff. Method specific QC requirements are documented in each method and study specific QC requirements are specified in the protocol. New employees are given a QA orientation training session which includes training in the principles of QC.

GLP Compliance

Training for GLP is extensive at NCL. A GLP training manual has been developed to ensure that each staff member performs his/her study-related task in compliance with GLPs. Staff members receive ongoing training in GLP compliance by way of onsite training sessions, discussions and/or memos regarding audit findings and courses offered by organizations involved in GLP studies.

Hazardous Waste and Safety

Safety and hazardous waste requirements are critical issues for every laboratory. The safety program at NCL includes initial safety training for new employees, ongoing training for all employees, and onsite inspections that are conducted at regular intervals. The Safety Officer and Safety Committee are responsible for training all new personnel and for maintaining a high level of employee awareness and knowledge concerning safety issues. Proper waste disposal, waste minimization, and hazardous materials training is given by the Hazardous Waste Committee. NCL also has an Emergency Response Team (ERT) that is comprised of five individuals trained in spill response and cleanup. All employees are given spill response training on a yearly basis.

Outside Technical Training

In addition to the "in house" training program, NCL encourages its employees to further their skills by sending individuals to training courses and classes offered by equipment manufacturers, chemistry associations, quality assurance societies, laboratory organizations, and universities.