Business Case
It is my hope that this finds you well.
I am writing to report the case of a broken electrode. The broken electrode is a component of a pH meter belonging to the Soil Science Center (“The Agricultural Institute mystery: The case of broken electrode”). The pH meter was borrowed on Monday morning on the date of this email. The Insect Diagnostics Laboratory and the Soil Science Center have for a long time been sharing the equipment. Consequently, the borrowing of the equipment on this particular day was in the ordinary conduct of business in the two laboratories. The director of the soil science center was notified of the borrowed pH meter and therefore proper procedures were followed.
The realization that the pH meter was broken came as soon as I started working with the equipment. On turning the knob from standby to pH the meter registered no change. A pH meter measures the acidity in a solution and therefore it should record a reading if working properly. The failure of the equipment to function can either be due to inadequate electrode’s fluid or due to a broken electrode. Upon inspection of the equipment I realized that the electrode’s solution had no problem but a hairline crack was observable on the electrode. I reported the case to the director of the soil science center who indicated that the case had not been reported before I borrowed the pH meter.
An electrode comes with the pH meter. Electrodes break periodically over the life of the instrument and it must be replaced. This means that the electrode may have broken out of the ordinary wear and tear. Sometimes a cracked electrode is easily visible. Occasionally, it is very hard to see. This might be the reason why the case had not been reported to the director of the soil science center. It is not clear how or when the electrode cracked but since I reported the case, it has been difficult to convince the soil science center that the electrode cracked in while in their care and probably due to the normal wear and tear over prolonged use.
Considering the circumstances of the case, the soil science center has recommended that the insect diagnostic laboratory should share in the maintenance and repair equipment shared regularly. The understanding is that sharing the pH meter among other equipment directly contributes to the wear and tear of the equipment and so it is only fair that the two groups share in the maintenance and repair of the shared equipment including the broken pH meter. The alternative to this is failure to contribute in the repair and maintenance of the equipment. This alternative might result in strained relations between the two groups meaning that we may not be able to continue sharing equipment.
I recommend that your office considers repairing the equipment subject to the information herein provided. I obtained information on the equipment and according to the catalogue the instrument is a Holtzmann pH meter. The electrode is a combination glass microelectrode, Catalog No. 2071581 available at $93.00 from Holtzmann Instruments, Inc, Rockbury, New Jersey 00000.
I look forward to your understanding and prompt response to the issue herein raised.
Best Regards,
Insect Diagnostic Laboratory
Reference
The Agricultural Institute mystery: The case of broken electrode. Lecture Notes
