Personal Errors

These different concepts are variously described by different researchers as misconceptions, alternative conceptions, naive beliefs, erroneous ideas, multiple private versions of science, underlying sources of error, personal models of reality, spontaneous reasoning, developing conceptions, misunderstanding, mistakes, misinterpretation of facts, personal constructs and persistent pitfalls - to name just a few [4-10]. The authors will use the term misconceptions for the simple reason that researchers refer to it more often. 

What then singles out a mistake as being particularly traumatic for a clinician Errors, as we have seen, are frequent. Yet only a small proportion bring anguish, regret and shame in their wake. There is almost no research on this issue to my knowledge, but the nature of the error, personal characteristics and medical culture probably all play a part in determining the personal impact. 

When we report the result of a measurement a , there are two things a person reading the report wants to know the magnitude (size) of the measurement and the reliability of the measurement (its scatter ). If measuring errors are random, as they very frequently are, the magnitude is best expressed as the arithmetic mean p of N repeated tr ials xi... 

There is a fundamental difference between such scientific controversies and what simply can be called scientific fraud, i.e., deliberate falsification or fudging of data. Sloppy experimental work or data keeping can also lead to questionable or incorrect conclusions, and, although these violate established scientific standards and must be corrected (as they will), they do not necessarily represent deliberate fraud. In all this, the professor has a strict personal responsibility. As he/she is getting most of the recognition for the accomplishment of the research, it is only natural that he/she must also shoulder the responsibility for any mistakes, errors, or even falsifications. It is not accepta-... 

Determinate errors may be divided into four categories sampling errors, method errors, measurement errors, and personal errors. 

Personal Errors Finally, analytical work is always subject to a variety of personal errors, which can include the ability to see a change in the color of an indicator used to signal the end point of a titration biases, such as consistently overestimating or underestimating the value on an instrument s readout scale failing to calibrate glassware and instrumentation and misinterpreting procedural directions. Personal errors can be minimized with proper care. 

Donato, H. Metz, G. A Direct Method for the Propagation of Error Using a Personal Gomputer Spreadsheet Program, ... 

An extremely important safety issue with respect to ah. wood product manufacturing processes is personal worker safety. Ah of the processes use much moving machinery, usuahy including many saws or knives. Workers must continuahy remember the inherent dangers these machines involve as weh as other possible dangerous situations which could result from malfunctions or other errors. In addition, most processes are more or less dusty and noisy. Most employers require use of safety glasses and many require hearing protection, safety shoes, and hardhats as weh as other kinds of protection needed for Specific jobs. 

Sequence errors refer to situations when a person performs a task, or an individual step in a task, out of sequence. For example, charging the reactor before starting the cooling water flow. 

Timing errors occur when a person fails to perform an action within the allotted time, either performing too fast or too slowly. For example, this may include charging a reactor too quickly or too slowly. 

Another common approach is to use an information-processing model to classify human errors. The classification models the information processing which occurs when a person operates and controls complex systems such as processing plants. One such classification (Rouse and Rouse, 1983) identifies six steps in information processing. Exhibit 6.1 lists the six steps, and provides some examples of errors that can occur at each of these steps. 

Review the list with your Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). Subject matter experts are generally persons who can competently perform the task. This review will enable you to remove tasks that are no longer performed, add any tasks that were omitted, and correct any errors. 

The human element, seen in errors, ignorance, lack of training, lethargy, illiteracy or indiscipline, or indifference, must be monitored carefully. This may require either an adequately qualified and experienced person or proper job training. Indifference, for reasons other than the above, would be a matter for human resource development, where a worker s skills and habits may have to be adapted to fit into the system. 

The precision rotameter is a secondary calibration device. If it is to be used in place of a primary device such as a bubble meter, care must be taken to ensure that any introduced error will be minimal and noted. The precision rotameter may be used for calibrating the personal sampling pump in lieu of a bubble meter provided it is (a) Calibrated with an electronic bubble meter or a bubble meter, (b) Disassembled, cleaned as necessary, and recalibrated. It should be used with care to avoid dirt and dust contamination which may affect the flow, (c) Not used at substantially different temperature and/or pressure from those conditions present when the rotameter was calibrated against the primary source, (d) Used such that pressure drop across it is minimal. If altitude or temperature at the sampling site are substantially different from the calibration site, it is necessary to calibrate the precision rotameter at the sampling site where the same conditions are present. 

FEEDBACK. Feedback can reduce error rates from 2/100 to 2/1000 (Swain and Guttmann, 1983). If the person can see that he is doing the right thing, he can be sure he did it. 

At the next organizational level are factors directly causing error 1) job characteristics such o Complexity, time stress, noise, lighting, environment, or mental requirements, and 2) individual factors such as personality, and team performance. These, collectively, are called performance-influencing factors, or PIFs. 

Errors related to velocity measurement instruments have different origins depending on the measurement principle. The most important of these have been covered in previous sections. One common source of error for all instruments is the disturbance of the flow field by the sensor/meter or the person carrying out the measuring. The influence of the sensor in an open space is usually... 

This chapter describes accidents caused by those slips and lapses of attention that even well-trained and well-motivated persons make from time to time. For example, they forget to close a valve or close the wrong valve. They know what they should do, want to do it, and are physically and mentally capable of doing it. But they forget to do it. Exhortation, punishment, or further training will have no effect. We must either accept an occasional error or change the work situation so as to remove the opportunities for error or to make errors less likely. 

Clearly defined assessment criteria. Clearly defining the criteria against which existing PSM programs will be evaluated helps to minimize the margin for error and maximize objectivity. Ill-defined evaluation criteria require the person conducting the assessment to rely solely on individual skill and experience, which may or may not yield objective results. 

Ironically, many errors occur because a person is well trained. Routine operations are controlled by lower levels of the brain and are not continuously monitored by the conscious mind. When tlie normal pattern of action is interrupted, an error is more likely to occur. 

To the best of the Publisher s knowledge the information contained in this book is accurate however, the Publisher assumes no responsibility nor liability for errors or any consequences arising from the use of the information contained herein. Final determination of the suitability of any information, procedure, or product for use contemplated by any user, and the manner of that use, is the sole responsibility of the user. The book is intended for informational purposes only. Due caution should be exercised in the use and handling of those raw materials that are potentially hazardous. Expert advice should be obtained at all times when manufacturing implementation is being considered. In the case of personal use of any of the products included, the manufacturer s medical instructions should be followed. Mention of trade names does not indicate endorsement by the Author nor the Publisher. 

That there had been some informality, defect or error in, or in connection with, the notice. It may be that the notice was addressed to the wrong person or contained other faulty wording. 

In many plants, the day-to-day operation is manually controlled and this requires a knowledge of, and familiarity with, the system which must be given by the installing contractor. A great deal of malfunction and inefficiency, many errors, and a few serious accidents arise from operation by untrained persons. 

---