TechWhirl (TECHWR-L) is a resource for technical writing and technical communications professionals of all experience levels and in all industries to share their experiences and acquire information.
For two decades, technical communicators have turned to TechWhirl to ask and answer questions about the always-changing world of technical communications, such as tools, skills, career paths, methodologies, and emerging industries. The TechWhirl Archives and magazine, created for, by and about technical writers, offer a wealth of knowledge to everyone with an interest in any aspect of technical communications.
Subject:Re: Re. writing and liability? From:Mercedes Abels <maa5906 -at- GRIFFON -dot- MWSC -dot- EDU> Date:Tue, 26 Mar 1996 06:49:07 -0600
> > So what's the real story? Has anyone out there in
> > techwhirler land heard of a freelancer or wage slave
> > getting nailed as a result of problematic writing?
> >
> > --Geoff Hart @8^{)}
> > geoff-h -at- mtl -dot- feric -dot- ca
My company manufactures vehicles and equipment fir the utility industry,
the trucks with elevators and personnel platforms that raise workers up
to work on energized electrical lines. We have been successfully sued
over the content and wording of our manuals in the past.
When an individual is hurt on the job and a lawsuit is filed, everything
possible is examined. Part of the hassle we got over the manuals was that
they were not consistent, some things were described one way in one
manual, another way in a manual for different model. We have since
established uniform safety alerts, text modules for unit component and an
outline that is followed to the letter in every manual. I am working now
on getting them to use an index.
Marci Abels
maa5906 -at- griffon -dot- mwsc -dot- edu
