201: Standard Terminology Not Used
Definition/Typical Issues
Was nonstandard or unaccepted terminology used? Could the communication be interpreted more than one way? Did one piece of equipment have two or more commonly used names? Could the terminology have applied to more than one item?
Examples
Example 1
- An operator was told to verify that a solution was clear before adding it to a process. The operator thought that "clear" meant "not cloudy." What was actually meant was "no color" since color was an indication of contaminants in the solution. The solution was clear (translucent), but had a slightly pink tint. As a result, an out-of-specification solution was used.
Example 2
- A helper was told to cut 10 foot-long pieces. He wasn't sure whether he was supposed to cut 10 pieces, each 1-foot long, or one piece that was 10-feet long. Normally, the staff had a practice of specifying 10 pieces, each 1-foot long.
Typical Recommendations
- Establish standard terminology for equipment, process operations, and maintenance operations. Encourage all employees to stop using nonstandard terminology.
- Avoid ambiguous terms and phrases in procedures, work instructions, logbooks, etc.
- Solicit feedback to ensure that the communication was understood.
Cross-References
| Version 10 Element(s) | |
|---|---|
| Node ID | Node Name |
| 201 | Standard Terminology Not Used |
| Maritime Element(s) | |
|---|---|
| Node ID | Node Name |
| 229 | Standard Terminology Not Used |
| 239 | Ambiguous Information |