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Now can we please return to _technical_ communication?
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My point is that as the "communication specialist" -- sometimes the only
one -- it is precisely our job as Technical Writer to point out any
deficiencies in our company's written policies, especially when it comes to
safety. In today's litigous (litigenous?) -- aw, sue-happy -- world, the
"no brainers" must be documented!
When I am asked (not for the first or last time, I'm sure) "What are you, a
lawyer?" my response is "No, I'm the kid who makes sure you don't have to
spend a bunch of time with lawyers."
And every time I and my quality management system internal auditors do a gap
analysis on OSHA requirements, I look up what the fines would have been and
I look up two or three typical lawsuit settlements in similar situations.
Those numbers go into my quarterly Cost of Quality report.
My objective is to save my company at least five times my salary every year,
including reduction of legal and regulatory risk exposure. _Those_ numbers
go onto my resume and into my portfolio (on a sample of the detailed
report).
Still working on the goal of the base goal to erect a great big sign out
front "600 days without a lost-time accident". Great things take time.
It is part of the Tech Writer's job to know about things like "gap analysis"
and "cost of quality".
Dori Green
Technical Writer, QMS Project
Associated Brands, Inc.
Medina, NY Facility
NOTE: This packaging conveyor moves very fast.
CAUTION: Remember to press the "jog" button every five minutes to reduce
the frequency of container jams on the conveyor belt. Jams can crush the
containers.
WARNING: (FER CRYIN' OUT LOUD WOULD YOU PEOPLE STOP STICKING YOUR HANDS
INTO THE MACHINE TO CLEAR THE JAMS!)* STOP THE MACHINE BEFORE CLEARING A
JAM IN THE FOLLOWING STEP! FAILURE TO DO SO CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
*Not included in the actual warning but wow would I like to.
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