Implementation of ISO 9002 for research in occupational epidemiology

 The Department of Epidemiology, which forms part of the French National Institute for Research and Safety (INRS), is involved in research on occupational risks. It provides results of industry-based epidemiological studies focused on the relationship between occupational exposure and diseases of the respiratory system, central and peripheral nervous systems and cancer. This paper describes the Quality Assurance System developed by our department, which has been successfully maintained and extended since being granted ISO 9002 certification by the French Association for Quality Assurance. The quality system includes procedures specific to epidemiological study conduct and scientific peer reviews. It has been designed in order to meet the required ISO elements, including quality aims and policy, quality procedures for management of personnel, sub-contractors and facilities, nonconformities, corrective and preventive actions, archiving and traceability and planning of internal quality audits. Improvements in management, technical and service quality have resulted from this process. Although epidemiological studies differ markedly from industrial production for which the standards were originally drawn up, we have found that Quality Assurance is both applicable and useful in epidemiological research on occupational risks. Therefore, we conclude that a certified Quality Assurance Scheme including scientific peer reviews can be recommended to ensure reliable epidemiological results.