Project Details:
Classification and modeling human errors contributing to measurement uncertainty of chemical analytical test results
| Project No.: | 2012-021-1-500 |
| Start date: | 2012-12-01 |
| End date: | 0000-00-00 |
| Division: | Analytical Chemistry Division |
To develop: 1) a classification of human errors in analytical chemistry contributing to the measurement uncertainty, and 2) a method for modeling these errors in different laboratory environment.
The majority of measurements in chemistry are executed by technicians, which are not necessarily experts in metrology, quality and analytical chemistry. Modern measuring systems used in analytical laboratories have user-friendly interfaces and specific software for processing measurement signals, simplifying the execution of a measurement and analysis as a whole. Therefore, some users of these systems do not recognize the need of a critical attitude with respect to the instruments used, execution of the measurement, and interpretation of the final analytical result.
Depending on the application, basic knowledge is often required to perform measurements/analysis in an adequate manner. However, human activity is never free from errors. This is true especially in chemistry, where for example, unsuccessful analyte/measurand definition can lead to an erroneous choice of the measurement method; insufficient knowledge about a chromatographic column and the measurand properties can "compromise" the separation method; storage and use of a certified reference material in conditions other than required in the certificate increases uncertainty of the certified value; use of a mobile telephone during sample preparation, analysis, and/or calculations is a source of outliers; etc.
Reducing the error probability starts with the corresponding study and classification of the errors, education and training. There is an extensive literature today (including research reports and books) on understanding of a human error in aviation, engineering, healthcare and in accident analysis. However, in analytical chemistry (in the field of measurements in chemistry) there are only some single publications on the topic.
Current international guidelines for evaluation of measurement uncertainties in analytical chemistry avoided any discussion of human errors. In spite of that, there is a consensus concerning a contribution of human errors to the measurement uncertainty, which may be significant and, therefore, should be as minimum evaluated
April 2013 - As part of this project, a workshop was organized in conjunction with the ISRANALYTICA 2013 Conference and Exhibition, on 29 January 2013 in Tel Aviv, Israel <www.bioforumconf.com/workshop-on-human-errors>. The Israel Analytical Chemistry Society and CITAC took part in organizing the workshop. The event was sponsored by Israel Laboratory Accreditation Authority and SIGMA-ALDRICH Corporation, and arranged by Bioforum Ltd.
A report on this workshop will appear in Chem Int May-June 2013 (p. 30) and simultaneously in Reference Materials (Russia).
Last updated 7 June 2013