The WLA-RP has been designed to be compatible with the Incident Command System (ICS). The ICS was established by the Department of Homeland Security to provide a flexible and scalable system with common structure and terminology that facilitates coordination during an emergency response.
For smaller scale incidents and during the initial phases of large incidents, management functions may be handled by one person, the Incident Commander (IC). In this case, the IC will serve as the ASR. As an incident escalates, the ICS structure may expand and the responsibilities of the ASR and PRL may be transitioned into the Environmental Unit (EU). The EU facilitates environmental data management, monitoring, sampling, analyses and assessment, including the efforts by the labs.
Environmental Unit (EU) Personnel
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The Environmental Unit (EU) can include multiple roles. These roles may be played by a single person or multiple people, depending on the complexity and demands of the incident. Duties of personnel involved in coordinating laboratory response to a water contamination incident are:
Laboratory Coordinator
Identifies and coordinates available laboratory resources, sets priorities for laboratory analyses, and coordinates laboratory resources with other agencies
Analytical Coordinator
Schedules environmental sample analyses, maintains laboratory contacts, monitors and reviews sample and data chain-of-custody (COC), and provides analytical reports to the Incident Commander (IC) and EU
Quality Assurance (QA) Coordinator
Reviews and approves quality assurance project plans (QAPPs) and standard operating procedures (SOPs), supervises data review and validation, and resolves Quality Assurance (QA) issues
Sampling and Monitoring Plan Coordinator
Develops and reviews the sampling plans, sampling procedures, and QAPP
Transfer of Responsibilities
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Situations may warrant transferring the role of the PRL or MSL to another laboratory. This may be necessary if the scope and scale of the incident exceeds the resources and capabilities of the laboratory, or if the laboratory's operations are impacted by the incident.
Examples of when a PRL or MSL may need to transfer their role to another laboratory include:
Laboratory personnel are not available to support the incident
There are problems with the laboratory's instruments that prevent them from providing analytical support
The laboratory's capability has been impacted by the incident (e.g., power outages, damaged facility)
The laboratory's routine operations are being negatively impacted by providing incident support
The scope of the support required has increased beyond the laboratory's capabilities (e.g., the incident requires analysis of samples for select agents and the laboratory has no experience in this area)
transfer
Transfer of Responsibilities - Actions
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When transferring its role to a new laboratory, the PRL and/or MSL should take the following actions:
Actions for PRL
Actions for Both
Actions for MSL
Coordinate with ICS/ASR
Notify the ASR of the need to transfer the PRL role
Provide background information about the incident to the new PRL
Notify the MSLs of the change in PRL
Provide all data generated in support of the event to the new PRL
Complete any ongoing sample analyses
Transfer any remaining samples to the new laboratory
Work with the PRL to provide all necessary information to the new MSL
Provide all data generated in support of the event to the PRL
Additional Support
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For larger incidents or incidents that require specialized laboratory capabilities, it may be necessary to request assistance from an EPA regional laboratory outside of the EPA Region where the incident initially occurred.
In this case, the following procedure should be used:
Step 1 - ASR/EU/PRL Contacts EPA Regional Laboratory Director
The ASR/EU/PRL contacts his or her EPA Regional Laboratory Director regarding the need for assistance from a different EPA Regional Laboratory.
Step 2 - EPA Regional Laboratory Director Contacts his or her Counterpart
The EPA Regional Laboratory Director contacts his or her counterpart(s) in another EPA Region(s) to request assistance.
Step 3 - Assisting EPA Regional Laboratory Director Provides Support
The assisting EPA Regional Laboratory Director provides direct support by performing analyses at the EPA Regional Laboratory.
The EPA Regional Laboratory Director and assisting Director also may have information regarding other public or commercial laboratories in their respective regions.
Knowledge Review
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If the response requires the incorporation of the EU, who identifies and coordinates available laboratory resources, sets priorities for laboratory analyses, and coordinates laboratory resources with other agencies?
Knowledge Review
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If the response requires the incorporation of the EU, who identifies and coordinates available laboratory resources, sets priorities for laboratory analyses, and coordinates laboratory resources with other agencies?
Analytical Coordinator
Sampling and Monitoring Plan Coordinator
Quality Assurance Coordinator
Laboratory Coordinator
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700430fffffffalseffffffArial130000002multiplechoicefalseAnalytical Coordinator
falseThat is incorrect. Sampling and Monitoring Plan Coordinator falseThat is incorrect. Quality Assurance Coordinator falseThat is incorrect. Laboratory CoordinatortrueYes, that is correct. Sorry. That is incorrect. The correct answer is D. The Laboratory Coordinator is the one who identifies and coordinates available laboratory resources, sets priorities for laboratory analyses, and coordinates laboratory resources with other agencies.
Knowledge Review
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Under what circumstances may the role of PRL or MSL be transferred to another laboratory? (Select all that apply)
Knowledge Review
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Under what circumstances may the role of PRL or MSL be transferred to another laboratory? (Select all that apply)
The laboratory has lost power.
The laboratory does not have personnel trained in the method needed based on the incident.
The laboratory's instruments are being calibrated off-site.
The laboratory's personnel are not available to support the incident.
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700430fffffffalseffffffArial130000002multipleselect (Select all that apply)]]>falseThe laboratory has lost power.
trueThe laboratory does not have personnel trained in the method needed based on the incident.
trueThe laboratory's instruments are being calibrated off-site.
trueThe laboratory's personnel are not available to support the incident.
trueYes, that is correct. All of the choices are correct. Each situation may warrant transferring the role of the PRL or MSL to another laboratory.Sorry, that is incorrect. All of the choices are correct. Each situation may warrant transferring the role of the PRL or MSL to another laboratory.Sorry, that is incorrect. That is incorrect.