Defining Procedures

Within a work context, procedures represent a specihcation of how to undertake a task or series of tasks. Lind (1979 cited in Dien, 1998) defined a procedure as  

A set of rules (an algorithm) which is used to control operator activity in a certain task. Thus, an operating procedure describes how actions on the plant (manipulation of control inputs) should be made if a certain system goal should be accomplished. The sequencing of actions, i.e., their ordering in time, depends on plans structure and properties, the nature of the control task considered (goal), and operating constraints. 

The HSE (2005a) defined procedures within a work context as the written description of the steps you need to take to follow to perform a task (p. 1). Ockerman and Pritchett (2001) suggested that a procedure takes a large, complex task, capable of being approached in many different ways, and presents it as a sequence of manageable, communicable steps (p. 193). Procedures therefore dictate how a task should be undertaken and are used to both guide and constrain operator activity so tasks can be completed safely and efficiently. 

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The verifications can be performed by the user himself, with electronic measurement equipment described in this project. The consequences of the application of future European standard are very important since is established a mandatory verification of each particular flaw detector, at least once a year. Their verification is to be performed according to a well defined procedure of measurement, including acceptance criteria for each parameter. 

International standard ISO 8402 1994 defines procedure as determined mode of the activities realization. We consider activities on testing. 

Do audits assess that quality and safety activities comply with planned activities, that the quality and safety system are effective and that defined procedures and methods are being followed ... 

The finished product is correctly processed and checked, according to the defined procedures. 

RCRA was passed to manage nonhazardous and hazardous wastes and underground storage tanks, with an emphasis placed on the recovery of reusable materials as an alternative to their disposal. This act introduced the concept of the separate management of hazardous and nonhazardous wastes, and defined procedures to identify whether a waste is hazardous or nonhazardous. A waste exhibits the characteristic of toxicity, classified as a hazardous material, if the concentration of any of 39 selected analytes in the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP) extract exceed regulatory action levels. 

After the jump, the particle is taken to have reacted with a given probability if its distance from another particle is within the reaction radius. For fully diffusion-controlled reactions, this probability is unity for partially diffusion-controlled reactions, this reaction probability has to be consistent with the specific rate by a defined procedure. The probability that the particle may have reacted while executing the jump is approximated for binary encounters by a Brownian bridge—that is, it is assumed to be given by exp[—(x — a)(y — a)/D St], where a is the reaction radius, x andy are the interparticle separations before and after the jump, and D is the mutual diffusion coefficient of the reactants. After all... 

A defined procedure whereby a part of a substance, material or product is taken to provide for testing or calibration a representative sample of the whole. Sampling may also be required by the appropriate specification for which the substance, material or product is to be tested or calibrated. 

QC check samples are being tested by the defined procedures, at the required frequency and there is an up-to-date record of the results and actions taken where results have exceeded action limits. 

Assign a number representative of the blast strength for each individual blast. Some companies have defined procedures for this however, many risk analysts use their own judgment. 

Participants can use the analytical method of their choice except when otherwise instructed to adopt a specified method. It is recommended that all methods should be properly validated before use. In situations where the analytical result is method-dependent the true value will be assessed using those results obtained using a defined procedure. If participants use a method that is not equivalent to the defining method, then an automatic bias in result will occur when their performance is assessed. 

The quality of quantum-chemical calculations depends not only on the chosen n-electron model but also critically on the flexibility of the one-electron basis set in terms of which the MOs are expanded. Obviously, it is possible to choose basis sets in many different ways. For highly accurate, systematic studies of molecular systems, it becomes important to have a well-defined procedure for generating a sequence of basis sets of increasing flexibility. A popular hierarchy of basis functions are the correlation-consistent basis sets of Dunning and coworkers [15-17], We shall use two varieties of these sets the cc-pVXZ (correlation-consistent polarized-valence X-tuple-zeta) and cc-pCVXZ (correlation-consistent polarized core-valence X-tuple-zeta) basis sets see Table 1.1. 

The use of the previously defined procedure (see Section 3.2) for dissecting a molecule into its skeleton and ligand set permits one to enumerate the elements of chirality for monocentric configurations with higher coordination numbers. 

The application of these functionalization reactions to polymers has been catalogued in the anionic polymer review literature (4-6). Unfortunately, many of the reported applications of these functionalization reactions to anionic chain-ended polymers have not been well characterized (7). In order to exploit these functionalization reactions to their potential, well-defined procedures for quantitative chain end functionalization must be available. 

There are signs that companies are becoming increasingly aware of the industrial market and some attempts have been made to develop a systematic approach to this problem. Whereas in chnical chemistry the matrix is usually blood or urine, in the industrial area there are many varied matrices. The volume of sales for any matrix is often insufficient to justify the development investment required. An alternative philosophy is needed to meet the requirements economically. The Mettler range of automatic instruments provides one example of a systematic approach to automate a range of analysers. More recently the Zymark Corporation (Zymark Center, Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA), in the introduction of its Benchmate products, has defined procedures which can be tailored to individual laboratory needs by using essentially similar modules. These modules are coordinated with a simphfled robotic arm. Several tailor-made systems have been developed which have a wide appeal and are easily configurable to particular needs. 

In the past, laboratories have justified the initial investment in dedicated automation on the basis of the large number of identical, repetitive operations carried out. Fixed or dedicated automation is utihzed for large quantities of standard procedures, such as those found in manufacturing environments or in clinical laboratories. Fixed automation follows a predetermined sequence of steps to perform a defined procedure although efficient, it can only perform one repetitive procedure. Robotics, however, can provide flexible automation to meet the changing needs typical of quality control and research laboratories. Flexible automation is programmed by individual users to perform multiple procedures, and can be quickly reprogrammed to accommodate new or revised procedures. In these situations, a careful assessment of the software overhead must be made before a decision to purchase is made. 

Accreditation schemes have lately found much favour and it is expected that use of such schemes will increase. Unfortunately, at the moment, these schemes are reduced to mere indications that defined procedures have been followed, and they do not guarantee that rehable results are always achieved. It is to be hoped that such schemes will be enhanced to give full confidence to the laboratory customer. 

The Schedule-Controlled Operant Behavior test guideline (OPPTS 870.6500) defines procedures for conducting studies of schedule-controlled operant behavior, one way of evaluating the rate and pattern of a class of learned behavior. The purpose of the guideline is to evaluate the effects of acute and repeated exposures on the rate and pattern of responding under schedules of reinforcement. Additional tests may be necessary to completely assess the effects of any substance on learning, memory, or behavioral performance. 

Positive carcinogenic findings in animals require careful evaluation to determine their relevance to humans. Of key importance is the mode of action of tumor induction. The WHO/IPCS has developed a conceptual framework to provide a structured and transparent approach for the assessment of the overall weight of evidence for a postulated mode of induction for each tumor type observed (Sonich-MuUin et al. 2001). The framework promotes confidence in the conclusions reached by the use of a defined procedure, which mandates clear and consistent documentation of the reasoning used and inconsistencies and uncertainties in the available data. 

Receipt, handling, sampling and storage of test and reference items should be clearly defined activities, with well-defined procedures. Also procedures must be provided for the records that are to be kept as evidence of good practice and the identification information on storage containers. 

The systematic naming of substances and presentation of formulae involve the construction of names and formulae from units that are manipulated in accordance with defined procedures in order to provide information on composition and structure. There are a number of accepted systems for this, of which the principal ones will be discussed below. Whatever the pattern of nomenclature, names and formulae are constructed from units that fall into the following classes ... 

The protocols define procedures to be used to verify the performance of qualified equipment. As part of validation, the results obtained should be carefully recorded and compared with the design conditions. Deviations or diversions contrary to the specified levels determine the suitability of the controlled environment, so the reporting form represents the document for certification or acceptance of the system. The reporting form should show the following information ... 

To demonstrate the control of aseptic operations maintained by well-trained personnel, defined procedures, and appropriately designed equipment and facilities. Media filling in conjunction with comprehensive environmental monitoring will be conducted three times to demonstrate that the aseptic processing of lyophilized powder is functioning as intended. 

A representative sample is a sample taken using a clearly defined procedure in order to obtain information about a batch. 

IL-2 The mutual relationships between the properties of systems at equilibrium are sufficiently well behaved to permit low-order (i.e., 1st and 2nd) derivatives to be determined by experimentally well-defined procedures. 

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