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Professional Writing · Chapter 7

The Hazard Message Composer

A usable hazard message grades the risk honestly, names three things — hazard, consequence, avoidance — and sits where the reader meets it before the hand moves. Build one for each scenario, then hit the photocopier button to see what survives when colour does not. One last question waits at the bottom: should you be writing this warning at all?
Scenario
Signal word
The hazard — what is the threat?
The consequence — what does it do?
The avoidance — what prevents it?
Placement
Maintenance manualpage 9
0message strength
What a reader gets from this