METRIC 20 – QUALITY CONTROL AND QUALITY ASSURANCE

  1. Team Leader Quality Control. Every National Bridge Inventory (NBI) bridge inspection of a BLM owned bridge must have a qualified Team Leader on-site for the duration of the inspection. The initial qualifications of a Team Leader are listed in 23 CFR 650.309 “Qualifications of personnel.” In order for each Team Leader to remain qualified as a Team Leader, each Team Leader must take additional bridge inspection training every five years from the date of their original bridge inspection training certificate. The additional bridge inspection training or training must add up to 24 hours of instructor led training and must be taken through the National Highway Institute (NHI). The additional bridge inspection training must be focused around bridge inspection. Bridge inspection training not offered through NHI may be accepted if approved by the BLM Program Manager (PM).
  2. NBI Bridge Inspection Quality Control. Each State PM is responsible for ensuring that Quality Control (QC) procedures are being followed for every NBI bridge inspection. The following QC procedures shall be followed for every NBI bridge inspection:
  • Each bridge inspection report shall be developed and signed by the Team Leader who is on-site for the duration of the bridge inspection
  • Each bridge inspection report shall be reviewed and signed by an independent reviewer who is qualified as a Team Leader
  • Each inspection report shall be approved and signed by the State PM or the Consultant PM. The Team Leader and the State PM or Consultant PM may be the same person.
  1. NBI Bridge Inspection Quality Assurance. Quality Assurance (QA) procedures on bridge inspections shall include performing an independent field review on a minimum of 5% of the bridges inspected each year to evaluate the consistency and effectiveness of the previous inspection and the current inspection being performed. Prior to the field review, the bridge files for the selected bridges will also be reviewed. The BLM PM will determine the list of bridges that will have an independent field review performed each year. The independent field review shall be performed by the BLM PM or by a qualified Team Leader that does not perform inspections in that state. The State PM may perform the field review on bridges inspected by consultants or other agencies within that State. The reviewing PM or Team Leader will fill out a Field Review Checklist for each bridge that is reviewed. The Field Review Checklist is included at the end of this document. The completed Field Review Checklist will be filed in the bridge file.
  2. NBI Data Quality Assurance. QA procedures shall also be implemented on BLM NBI data. QA procedures for NBI data will include performing an independent check on the NBI data for 10% of the BLM NBI bridges. The NBI data QA will be performed by the BLM PM in March of each year before the NBI data is submitted to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The current NBI data will be checked against the NBI data found in the last inspection report. The BLM PM will keep a record of any discrepancies found in the NBI data that is reviewed.

BLM Bridge Program – Field Review Checklist

FAMS Name: / Reviewed by: / Review Date:
Structure #: / State: / Year Built:
Location: / Feature Carried: / Feature Crossed:
Most Recent NBIS Inspection Dates:
Routine: / FC: / UW: / Special:

Quality Inspection Evaluation

Condition Codes / NBI
Item / Recorded Ratings / Review Team Rating / Notes / Meets Criteria (± 1)?
NBI SI&A / Last Insp. Report
58 –
Deck / Y / N
59 –
Superstr. / Y / N
60 –
Substr. / Y / N
61 –
Channel / Y / N
62 –
Culvert / Y / N
Other Criteria / Criteria / Review Team Assessment / Notes/Explanation / Meets Criteria (± 1)?
All notable deficiencies identified? / Yes / No /
NA (no notable deficiencies) / Y / N
Narrative justifies condition ratings? / Yes / No / Y / N
Qualified TL present during last inspection? / Y / N
Overall Field Assessment of Adequacy of Last Inspection
(only check yes if all criteria is met) / Y / N

Quality NBI Data Evaluation

SI&A Item / NBI SI&A / Last Insp. Report / Review Team Codes / Meets Accuracy?
16 – Latitude / Y / N
17 – Longitude / Y / N
28A – Lanes on Structure / Y / N
41 – Structure Status / Y / N
43A – Kind of Material/Design / Y / N
43B – Type of Design/Construction / Y / N
72 – Approach Roadway Alignment / Y / N
92A – Fracture Critical Details / Y / N
92B – Underwater Inspection / Y / N
92C – Other Special Inspections / Y / N
112 – NBIS Bridge Length? / Y / N
113 – Scour Critical Bridges / Y / N

Quality NBI Data Evaluation (Continued)

SI&A Item / NBI SI&A / Last Insp. Report / Review Team Codes / Meets Accuracy?
29 – Average Daily Traffic / Y / N
31 – Design Load / Y / N
32 – Approach Roadway Width / Y / N
36 – Traffic Safety Features
36A 36B 36C 36D / (1,0,N) (1,0,N) (1,0,N) (1,0,N) / Y / N
45 – Number of Spans in Main Unit / Y / N
48 – Length of Max Span / Y / N
49 – Bridge Length / Y / N
51 – Bridge Roadway Width Curb to Curb / Y / N
106 – Year Reconstructed / Y / N
107 – Deck Structure Type / Y / N
108A – Type of Wearing Surface / Y / N

Inspection Frequency Evaluation

Previous Inspection / Date / Team Leader / Meets Criteria?
Cycle 1 / Y / N
Cycle 2 / Y / N
Cycle 3 / Y / N
Are Fracture Critical, Underwater, and/or Special Inspections meeting the required inspection frequency (if required)? / Y / N
NA (not required)
Notes:

Load Rating and Posting Evaluation

NBI Item / NBI SI&A / Matches LR Report? / Notes
63 – O.R. Method / Y / N
64 – O.R. Value / Y / N
65 – I.R. Method / Y / N
66 – I.R. Value / Y / N
41 – Posting Status / Y / N
70 – Bridge Posting / Y / N

Photos:(Optional)

Photo # / Description

Notes:(Optional)

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