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Proficiency Testing

One of the few PCA-accredited proficiency testing organisers (PT 010) in the Polish OSH and environmental laboratory market. Nine accredited 2026 programmes + PT-Cr VI add-on
covering noise, vibration, lighting, microclimate, dust, chemicals and hexavalent chromium.

Accredited Proficiency Testing for Testing Laboratories

PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025 requires accredited laboratories to demonstrate technical competence through participation in proficiency testing or interlaboratory comparison programmes. OIKOS is one of the few PCA-accredited proficiency testing organisers (PT 010 under PN-EN ISO/IEC 17043) in the Polish OSH and environmental laboratory market. We have organised PT since 2021 and currently operate ten programmes covering noise, vibration, lighting, microclimate, dust, chemical agents — used by laboratories across Poland to maintain their AB accreditation.

Nine accredited PT Programmes + PT-Cr VI Add-on

Accredited programmes are marked with the letter A and fall within the PT 010 accreditation scope. For 2026 we offer nine accredited programmes plus the additional PT-Cr VI programme — hexavalent chromium determination on filters — delivered outside the PT 010 scope. Each programme requires a minimum of six participating laboratories. After each round, participants receive a detailed statistical report with performance scoring (z-score or equivalent) for use in their own quality system:

2026 Programme Schedule

Nine accredited proficiency-testing programmes run three rounds in 2026 under PT 010 (PN-EN ISO/IEC 17043:2023-10). The PT-Cr VI programme is delivered as a single round outside the PT 010 accredited scope. Accreditation status and current scope can be verified on the Polish Centre for Accreditation website www.pca.gov.pl in the list of accredited PT organisers.

PT-H — Workplace noise

AccreditationA — PT 010
IdentificationWorkplace noise — determination of occupational exposure to noise
Testing objectWorkplace environment — noise
Measured quantitiesA-weighted equivalent sound level; A-weighted maximum sound level; C-weighted peak sound level. Direct measurement method. Noise exposure level referenced to 8-hour daily working time (calculated).
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
RoundSign-up byMeasurement dateReport sent by
I23.02.202602.03.202607.04.2026
II18.05.202625.05.202607.07.2026
III21.09.202628.09.202609.11.2026

PT-EH — Environmental noise

AccreditationA — PT 010
IdentificationEnvironmental noise — measurements of noise from installations or equipment
Testing objectGeneral environment — noise from installations, equipment and industrial plants
Measured quantitiesA-weighted equivalent sound level. Direct measurement method. A-weighted equivalent sound level for the reference time expressed as LAeqD indicator.
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
RoundSign-up byMeasurement dateReport sent by
I23.02.202602.03.202614.04.2026
II18.05.202626.05.202608.07.2026
III21.09.202629.09.202610.11.2026

PT-DR — Vibration (HAV / WBV)

AccreditationA — PT 010
IdentificationProficiency testing for vibration measurements — general action on the human body (whole-body vibration, WBV) and local action through upper limbs (hand-arm vibration, HAV)
Testing objectWorkplace environment — mechanical whole-body vibration (WBV)
Workplace environment — mechanical hand-arm vibration (HAV) through upper limbs
Measured quantitiesWBV: Frequency-weighted RMS vibration acceleration. Direct measurement method. Daily exposure expressed as energy-equivalent for 8 hours of action of the effective frequency-corrected vibration acceleration, dominant among accelerations determined for three directional components with appropriate coefficients (1,4awx, 1,4awy, awz) (calculated).

HAV: Frequency-weighted RMS vibration acceleration. Direct measurement method. Daily exposure expressed as energy-equivalent for 8 hours of action of the vector sum of effective, frequency-corrected vibration accelerations determined for three components (ahwx, ahwy, ahwz) (calculated).
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
RoundSign-up byMeasurement dateReport sent by
I23.02.202603.03.202615.04.2026
II18.05.202625.05.202607.07.2026
III21.09.202628.09.202609.11.2026

PT-G — Carbon monoxide

AccreditationA — PT 010
IdentificationDetermination of carbon monoxide concentration in workplace environment using direct-reading instruments
Testing objectWorkplace environment — air
Measured quantitiesCarbon monoxide concentration. Direct measurement method. Exposure index (calculated).
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
RoundSign-up byMeasurement dateReport sent by
I23.02.202603.03.202615.04.2026
II18.05.202626.05.202608.07.2026
III21.09.202629.09.202610.11.2026

PT-ORG — Organic substances (toluene)

AccreditationA — PT 010
IdentificationProficiency testing for air sampling to assess occupational exposure to organic substances — toluene
Testing objectWorkplace environment — air
Measured quantitiesToluene concentration. Air sampling. Exposure index (calculated).
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
RoundSign-up byMeasurement dateReport sent by
I23.02.202604.03.202616.04.2026
II18.05.202627.05.202609.07.2026
III21.09.202630.09.202612.11.2026

PT-OS — Lighting

AccreditationA — PT 010
IdentificationIlluminance measurement — workplace lighting
Testing objectWorkplace environment — indoor electrical lighting
Measured quantitiesIlluminance; uniformity of illuminance. Direct measurement method.
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
RoundSign-up byMeasurement dateReport sent by
I23.02.202604.03.202616.04.2026
II18.05.202627.05.202609.07.2026
III21.09.202630.09.202612.11.2026

PT-P — Dust (aerosol fractions)

AccreditationA — PT 010
IdentificationProficiency testing for air sampling and determination of inhalable and respirable aerosol fractions
Testing objectWorkplace environment — air
Measured quantitiesAerosol concentration: inhalable fraction; respirable fraction. Air sampling and gravimetric analysis. Exposure index (calculated).
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
RoundSign-up byMeasurement dateReport sent by
I23.02.202605.03.202617.04.2026
II18.05.202628.05.202610.07.2026
III21.09.202601.10.202613.11.2026

PT-HU — Ultrasonic noise

AccreditationA — PT 010
IdentificationUltrasonic noise in workplace — determination of occupational exposure to ultrasonic noise
Testing objectWorkplace environment — ultrasonic noise
Measured quantitiesEquivalent sound pressure levels in the i-th third-octave band at centre frequencies from 10 kHz to 40 kHz; maximum sound pressure levels in the i-th third-octave band at centre frequencies from 10 kHz to 40 kHz. Direct measurement method. Equivalent sound pressure levels in the i-th third-octave band referenced to 8-hour daily working time (calculated).
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
RoundSign-up byMeasurement dateReport sent by
I23.02.202605.03.202617.04.2026
II18.05.202628.05.202610.07.2026
III21.09.202601.10.202613.11.2026

PT-M — Thermal microclimate

AccreditationA — PT 010
IdentificationThermal comfort assessment using the PMV indicator, and thermal load assessment based on the WBGT indicator
Testing objectWorkplace environment — moderate microclimate
Workplace environment — hot microclimate
Measured quantitiesModerate microclimate (PMV): Air temperature; black globe temperature; air humidity; air velocity. Direct measurement method. PMV indicator (calculated).

Hot microclimate (WBGT): Air temperature; natural wet-bulb temperature; black globe temperature. Direct measurement method. WBGT indicator (calculated).
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
RoundSign-up byMeasurement dateReport sent by
I23.02.202606.03.202620.04.2026
II18.05.202629.05.202611.07.2026
III21.09.202602.10.202616.11.2026

PT-Cr VI — Hexavalent chromium

AccreditationNone — delivered outside PT 010 accredited scope
IdentificationInterlaboratory comparison for the determination of hexavalent chromium compounds on filters
Sample analysis locationParticipant’s own laboratory
Testing objectSample A1 — glass-fibre filter of 25 mm diameter with an applied known quantity of hexavalent chromium compounds at lower concentration
Sample A2 — glass-fibre filter of 25 mm diameter with an applied known quantity of hexavalent chromium compounds at higher concentration
One blank control filter
DocumentsOutlineProgrammeRegistration form
Stage Date
Sign-up by 25.02.2026
Start (test items shipped to participants) 04.03.2026
Completion (participants send results to OIKOS) 11.03.2026
Report sent by 23.04.2026

The Standard Other Laboratories Are Tested Against

OIKOS holds both AB 934 (laboratory testing under PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025) and PT 010 (PT organiser under PN-EN ISO/IEC 17043) — a dual position that is unique in the Polish OSH and environmental laboratory market. Our PT programmes are designed by specialists with daily experience of performing the same accredited measurements that participants are tested on. This translates into realistic measurement scenarios, appropriately prepared test items and reliable reference values.

PT participation is a regulatory requirement — not a marketing claim. PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025 clause 7.7 obliges accredited laboratories to monitor their technical competence through interlaboratory comparison or PT programmes. Lack of documented participation in accredited PT can be a basis for non-compliance during a PCA audit and may result in suspension or withdrawal of accreditation. To register for the 2026 round or download programme outlines, contact szkolenia@oikoslab.pl.

FAQ

Proficiency Testing Questions

PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025 clause 7.7 obliges laboratories to monitor their technical competence through interlaboratory comparisons or PT programmes. Lack of documented participation in accredited PT can be a basis for a non-compliance finding during a PCA audit and may result in suspension or withdrawal of accreditation. PT is therefore not optional — it is a structural requirement of the quality system.

After registration, your laboratory receives the participation agreement, programme instructions and a detailed schedule. Within the designated measurement window, your team carries out measurements using your own equipment and procedures, then submits results to OIKOS in the specified format. We perform statistical analysis under PN-EN ISO/IEC 17043 and deliver an individual report with your performance score.

Yes. Programmes marked A fall within the PT 010 accreditation scope and provide formal evidence for PCA audits. Programmes outside this scope are still valuable interlaboratory comparisons that contribute to your quality system and method validation, but they should not be presented as accredited PT in your audit documentation.

OIKOS organises nine accredited proficiency-testing programmes — PT-DR, PT-H, PT-EH, PT-G, PT-ORG, PT-OS, PT-P, PT-HU and PT-M — under PT 010 (PN-EN ISO/IEC 17043:2023-10). Programme marked with letter A indicates that the round is accredited. Participation is recognised by PCA auditors as evidence of laboratory competence.

PT-Cr VI is delivered outside the accredited scope. It does not carry accredited status, but is designed and run by the same OIKOS team following the same methodological principles, sample preparation procedures and statistical evaluation framework. Whether to include PT-Cr VI results in your quality management documentation is a decision for the ordering laboratory in light of your accreditation body’s requirements.

Detailed schedules for each programme round are included in the downloadable programme outlines. For up-to-date information on registration deadlines and measurement windows, contact szkolenia@oikoslab.pl. Most programmes have multiple registration windows during the year so laboratories can join at points that fit their own schedule.

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