Posted By Adrian Watson Dear Nigel, You have hit upon one of the most important aspects of OH&S, clear communications. In my young adulthood I was trained in writing reports in the army. During that training it was drummed into me that writing should be: A - Accurate, B - Brief, C - Clear and correct, and D - Directed to the intended reader. Since then I have read books on this subject, which have given me additional insights into good communications and how words influence thoughts(SI Hayanakawa). Other books that are well worth reading are: GENERAL Plain words Sir Earnst Gower. TECHNICAL REPORTS Effective writing - Improving scientific, technical and business communication Christopher Turk & John Kirkman WRITING STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES Process mastering Ray W Wilson PE & Paul Harsin Regards Adrian Watson

Posted By Stuart Nagle Nigel. Some years ago now I attended a course called 'Effective Writing' at Ashford Borough Council, along with a number of fellow Engineers. Having started out working in the civil engineering industry, I was soon 'speaking the speak' and did not appreciate that in dealing with members of the public, they did not always understand meanings when I or others were advising or discussing such heady issues as an illuminated street lighting colunms (lamp post), Hot Rolled Asphalt wearing course (road surface) or PCC modular paving units (paving slabs). The course introduced me to the 'Fog Factor' , a calculation (sum) based on the length of or number of sylables in a word or phrase etc to determine how 'foggy' the meaning or understanding of it was. The basic rules were: a) Keep the objective/purpose clearly in mind, write it down, include it in the opening of what you write b) Keep the reader in mind, he will only buy the product/idea if marketed effectively c) Be Accurate. Small lapses will distract the reader and lessen your credibility d) Be brief (never my forte). People are busy e) Be clear, avoid vague generalities, use precise words as the same word may mean many things to different persons f) Be simple. g) avoid jargon. technobabble is confusing and unforgiveable - Officialise is just as bad. h) Make sure what you write has a recognisable structure so the reader can follow the logical development I quickly learnt to reduce my 'fog factor' in such matters with non-technical persons, and, I think, improved how well people understood what I meant or was saying. I do however, even today (as I have done here) have to stop, go back over what I have written to simplify where I can. (PS I still have the course notes !!)