Personnel competence records under ISO/IEC 17025
Competence must be defined, achieved, authorised and monitored — with records for each step, for every activity that affects results.
Clause 6.2 requires all personnel who could influence laboratory activities to act impartially, be competent and work according to the management system. Competence requirements must be documented; personnel must be authorised for activities such as developing and validating methods, analysing results, reporting and authorising results.
A workable record set
- Job or role description with competence criteria.
- Training plan and evidence of completion, including supervised work.
- Authorisation record naming the activities, methods and equipment the person may operate independently.
- Periodic monitoring: witnessed calibrations, replicate measurements, proficiency results.
In ValiTrac's model, review and approval actions are tied to named, authorised users so that this evidence is produced as a by-product of the workflow.
Frequently asked questions
- Does every technician need a formal qualification?
- No. The standard requires demonstrated competence against the laboratory's own criteria, which may combine education, training and experience.
References
- [1]ISO/IEC 17025:2017 — General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories
General technical guidance written against the cited sources. It is not regulatory or legal advice and does not replace the applicable standard, guideline or a qualified reviewer's judgement.
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