INTERNAL CORRESPONDENCE

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Prof. Priscilla Sneff, Department of English

Logan Renninger, Department of Chemical Engineering
Rhetorical Analysis OSHA Best Practices Guide
January 26, 2016
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The purpose of this memo is to analyze the rhetoric of OSHAs Best Practices Guide:
Fundamentals of a Workplace First-Aid Program, and to evaluate the guides
effectiveness as a form of technical communication.
Summary
Overall, this guide acts as an exemplary form of technical communication, meeting all
six of Markels characteristics. It will serve as a good learning tool for English 202C
students.
Discussion
In Technical Communication, Markel defines six major characteristics of a technical
document, namely, it addresses particular readers, it helps readers solve problems, it
reflects the organizations goals and culture, it is produced collaboratively, it uses
design to increase readability, and it consists of words or images or both. As such, we
will analyze how the OSHA guide meets each criterion and how effectively it utilizes
these elements.
Addresses Particular Readers
Technical documents are crafted with specific readers in mind. The intended audience
is revealed rather explicitly in the preface where the document states that the guide is
intended to assist employers in providing a safe and healthful workplace. Context
clues in the overview and headings establish that the document is addressed to
professionals in management level positions as the primary audience. More
specifically, the document serves as a guide for those responsible for the health and
safety of their employees and clients, whether they are a CEO, a department head, or
simply a small business owner. The secondary audience comprises of the employees
affected by the first-aid Program through instructions, training, or by simply reading it
themselves.
Helps Readers Solve Problems
Technical documents help readers understand new information or complete a task.
This document guides the reader through the logistics and implementation of a
workplace first-aid program. The guide has a wide scope ranging from information of
automated external defibrillators (AEDs) to OSHA regulations. The table of contents
on page 2 provides the reader with both a brief overview of the guide and the ability to
quickly locate relevant information. Whether the reader requires knowledge on the

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Prof. Priscilla Sneff, Department of English

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administration of first-aid procedures, a comprehensive outline for the implementation

of a first-aid program, or simply general assistance from OSHA, the exact page
containing the help he or she may need is clearly presented.
Reflects the Organizations Goals
Technical documents embody to culture and goals of an organization. The
Occupational Safety and Health Administration is a division of the U.S. Department of
Labor whose mission statement is to assure safe and healthful working conditions for
working men and women by setting and enforcing standards and by providing training,
outreach, education, and assistance (osha.gov). In the preface, the guide provides
advisory standards which go beyond the legal requirements mandated by The
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSH Act). In doing so, OSHA
establishes a precedent of excellence and perpetuates its reputation as the voice of
safety for the American workforce.
Is Produced Collaboratively
Technical documents are typically written with some degree of collaboration. This
guide does not list one single author or even a list of contributors. Therefore, the
reader can be left to assume that the document was assembled by a team of OSHA
personnel.
Uses Design to Increase Readability
According to Markel, technical writers use design features to accomplish three goals:
to make the document look attractive and professional, to help readers navigate the
document, and to help readers understand the document. The style and design
features present in the OSHA guide satisfy these criteria. For example, clearly defined
large, bold headings guide the reader through the document. A tiered bullet point
system neatly organizes lists found in the text and white space is used to separate the
sections. Furthermore, flairs of red are utilized to draw attention to key words and
prevent the reader from drowning in a sea of small black text.
Consists of Words or Images or Both
In order to more effectively and efficiently relay information, most technical documents
typically include both words and images. This guide uses graphs to communicate
quantifiable data on pages 6 and 7. For example, Figure 3 on page 7 illustrates the
number of recordable injuries and illnesses by NAICS sector providing the reader with
a clear visual of the relative distribution of incidents. However, there are no other
images found in the guide. A more effective document might include pictures in
sections such as First-Aid Supplies on page 9, providing the reader with a visual of
the necessary items.
Recommendation
I propose that this Best Practices Guide be kept on file as a model form of technical
communication to be analyzed in future English 202C classes. However, because it
does not fully utilize visual aids, it should be used in company with one or more
graphically stronger documents.