Review the guidelines below. Are these guidelines informative or vague?
State a guideline and explain how information may be mistaken .
What improvement can be made?
Which of these guidelines could be improved by using a graphic? Why?
GUIDELINES Abiding by Liability Laws Pamela S. Helyar summarizes the communicator's obligations and offers ten guide- lines for abiding by liability laws (1992): Understand the product and its likely users. Learn everything you can about the product and its users. Describe the product's functions and limitations. Help people determine whether it is the right product to buy. In one case, a manufacturer was found liable for not stating that its electric smoke alarm does not work during a power outage. Instruct users on all aspects of ownership. Include assembly, installation, use and storage, testing, maintenance, first aid and emergencies, and disposal. Use appropriate words and graphics. Use common terms, simple sentences, and brief paragraphs. Structure the document logically, and include specific directions. Make graphics clear and easy to understand; where necessary, show people performing tasks. Make the words and graphics appropriate to the edu- cational level, mechanical ability, manual dexterity, and intelligence of intended users. For products that will be used by children or nonnative speakers of your language, include graphics illustrating important information. Warn users about the risks of using or misusing the product. Warn users about the dangers of using the product, such as chemical poisoning. Describe the cause, extent, and seriousness of the danger. A car manufacturer was found liable for not having warned consumers that parking a car on grass, leaves, or other combustible material could cause a fire. For particularly dangerous products, explain the danger and how to avoid it, and then describe how to use the prod- uct safely. Use mandatory language, such as must and shall, rather than might, could, or should. Use the words warning and caution appropriately. Include warnings along with assertions of safety. When product information says that a product is safe, readers tend to pay less attention to warnings. There- fore, include detailed warnings to balance the safety claims. Make directions and warnings conspicuous. Safety information must be in large type and easily visible, appear in an appropriate location, and be durable enough to withstand ordinary use of the product. Make sure that the instructions comply with applicable company standards and local, state, and federal laws. Perform usability testing. Test the product (to make sure it is safe and easy to use) and test the instructions (to make sure they are accurate and easy to understand). V Make sure users receive the information. If you discover a problem after the product has been shipped to retailers, tell users by direct mail or email, if pos- sible, or newspaper and online advertising if not. Automobile-recall notices are one example of how manufacturers contact their users
