Re: "Obvious" warnings - drawing the line

[letoured -at- together -dot- net]

In <3D4ECBE2 -dot- FF4929A4 -at- optonline -dot- net>, on 08/05/02 
   at 03:02 PM, Peter <pnewman1 -at- optonline -dot- net> said:

>letoured -at- together -dot- net wrote:
>> 
>> The answer is not that complicated. -- The general rule is simple;
>> 
>> If doing something or not doing it can lead to an injury or death, it gets a
>> warning.  If doing something or not doing it can lead to equipment damage, it
>> gets a caution note. And if there is something that isn't part of a step or
>> sequence, but useful to the user, it gets an advisory note -- especially if
>> the lack of the information could lead to an action that would call for a
>> warning or caution at a later point in the procedure.
>> 
>> Think "root cause" for general guidance; If the worse happened, could one
>> element of prevention be traced back to the lack of a warning, caution or
>> note.  If so, it needs one of them.

>Not quite that simple. would you include a warning on every coil of rope not
>to tie a loop around your neck when standing on a ladder. I know someone who,
>before he went on a roof,  tied a length of rope around his waist and
>anchored the other end to the bumper of his truck. He climbed on the roof and
>his wife then drove the truck away. Would you put a complimentary warning on
>the truck bumper. "Caution, anchoring a rope to this bumper which is tied to
>your waist could cause serious injury if you go on a roof."

You understood what I meant. Of course if you want to make the argument that
you didn't understand, go ahead -- but writers who work on utility systems,
chemical plants, railroads, shipbuilding, military equipment, and more -- know
them quite well. 

They work and very well, unless the writer is a complete dummy taking things
to the extreme <s> -- which not only wouldn't get past the sign-off review,
but neither would the writer if he ever tried it again.



-----------------------------------------------------------
letoured -at- together -dot- net
-----------------------------------------------------------



^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Save up to 50% with RoboHelp Deluxe. Get 2 great products for 1 low price!
You'll get RoboHelp Office PLUS RoboDemo, the software demonstration tool
that everyone's been talking about. Check it out and save!
http://www.ehelp.com/techwr-l

TECHWR-L is supported by ads and sponsorships...and donations.
You can help maintain the TECHWR-L community with donations
at http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/abouttechwhirl/donate.html

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as:
archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot-  Visit
http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.