138: Insufficient or Excessive References

Node Insufficient or Excessive References

Definition/Typical Issues

Did the procedure refer to an excessive number of additional procedures? Did the procedure contain numerous steps of the type "Calculate limits per procedure XYZ"? Was the procedure difficult to follow because of excessive branching to other procedures? Did the procedure contain numerous steps of the type "If X, then go to procedure ABC. If Y, then go to procedure EFG"? Did the procedure contain numerous references to other parts of the procedure?

Did it contain steps of the type "If the material is acceptable, go to Step 13.3. If the material is unacceptable, go to Step 12.4. If the test cannot be run, redo Step 4 and contact your supervisor"?

Examples

Example 1

  • An operator exceeded an operating limit. The primary procedure did not contain the limits but referred to four other procedures to find the limits. When checking his results against the limits, he looked at the wrong limit in one of the referenced procedures.

Example 2

  • An operating procedure indicates that personnel should verify the proper operation of the relays in accordance with the original equipment manufacturer's manual without indicating the document number. But because the facility used many relays from this same manufacturer, it was difficult to determine which manual was required.

Example 3

  • The operator did not use the procedure because of its numerous cross-references to other procedures. To carry all of them would have required a large notebook.

Typical Recommendations

  • List all information that an employee must have in order to perform a specific task in the procedure designated for this task. If the same information is required to perform different tasks, repeat the information in each procedure.
  • Do not branch to (reference) more than one other procedure (module) from a procedure.
  • Procedures intended for step-by-step use in the plant/field need to contain all required tasks; an employee is unlikely to return to the file/manual to get any referenced procedure.
  • Use a flowchart to determine the correct procedure steps to be implemented. Avoid too many jumps within a procedure.
  • When procedures are interrelated, provide clear, distinct, but not excessive references.

Cross-References

Version 10 Element(s)
Node ID Node Name
126 Insufficient or Excessive References

 

Maritime Element(s)
Node ID Node Name
132 Insufficient or Excessive References
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