Our 2-Day technical writing and communications training course was developed by seasoned technical writers and editors to prepare you to develop better EHS technical documents and communicate information more clearly.
Develop stronger technical documents.
Technical writing and communication are critical to all aspects of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) work. Information must be accurately communicated to other EHS specialists, professionals in related disciplines, and laypersons – often simultaneously. Poorly prepared technical communications can undermine the credibility of both information and authors.
Technical Communications for EHS Professionals™ presents writing process best practices, selection of communication methods, document format considerations, grammar challenges common in the EHS arena, editing process, and includes a series of exercises designed to help students practice and get feedback on their writing. Presented grammar adheres to the Chicago Manual of Style and includes notation of differences with two other commonly used technical style guides: the US Government Publishing Office (GPO) Style Manual and the American Psychologic Association (APA) Publication Manual.
Who should attend this course?
This course is valuable for EHS professionals in private or public sectors, EHS consultants, and others responsible for documenting the results of environmental and safety analyses or investigations. This course is suitable for both entry level professionals and senior experts.
What is the course format?
Technical Communications for EHS Professionals™ includes presentation of information with periodic opportunities for open discussion over two focused days. To keep the course interesting and enjoyable, participants engage in ungraded exercises that reiterate presented material and open new topics for discussion.
Course modules are presented in logical sequences and information is not fragmented and does not overlap. Discussions among instructors and participants explore unique environmental management challenges and proven compliance strategies. All participants are encouraged to ask questions throughout the course.
Students enter this course with a wide range of technical writing and communications training, experience, and capabilities. To eliminate any stress associated with sharing written materials, all class exercises are conducted in a manner that allows students to receive individual feedback, without the need to share their work products with the class.
In person courses are held in pleasant and easily accessible locations, and training venues are selected to allow you to escape distractions and focus on the presented material in a professional setting. All locations offer wireless service and Internet access so you can stay connected.
What does this course deliver?
Technical Communications for EHS Professionals™ provides participants with a solid foundation for serving as technical writer of EHS documents, editing and proofing their own work and serving as part of an internal editorial review process. You will Learn to write more targeted, effective technical documents in less time.
At completion of the course, you will receive a certificate for your records.
What’s covered in the course?
This course will leave you well-qualified to lead SPCC compliance programs at your organization.
Topics Covered Include:
- Understanding and Selecting Appropriate Forms of Technical Communication
- Technical Writing and Developing EHS Documents
- Defining a document’s purpose and audience
- Gathering/organizing information and data
- Outlines for organization
- Writing a draft
- Presenting technical information in an understandable way
- Clear and concise writing
- Eliminating “information dumping”
- Revising for clarify, organization, readability
- Rules of the Road
- Common style guides: Difference, pros and cons
- Grammar rules
- Common errors in EHS communications
- Compiling Effective Technical Documents
- Document formatting best practices
- Microsoft Word advanced features
- Organize information to match multiple audience’s needs and organization’s requirements
- Identify effective use of visual display, such as graphs, charts, tables, and diagrams
- Improving and Refining Documents
- Revise, refine, and proofread EHS documents for effectiveness
- Evaluating the Effectiveness of Technical Communications
Course Agendas are subject to change
Day 1: 8:15 am – 4:15 pm
Welcome & Introduction
Introduction to Technical Communication
Exercise: Technical Writing Challenge
Technical Writing and Developing EHS Documents
- Defining a document’s purpose and audience
- Gathering/organizing information and data
- Outlines for organization
- Writing a draft
- Presenting technical information in an understandable way
- Clear and concise writing
- Eliminating “information dumping”
- Revising for clarify, organization, readability
Class Exercises and Open Discussion
Day 2: 8:15 am – 3:00 pm
Rules of the Road
- Style guides
- Grammar rules
- Common errors in EHS communications
- Class exercises with instructor feedback
Compiling Effective Technical Documents
- Document formatting best practices
- Microsoft Word advanced features
- Organize information to match multiple audience’s needs and organization’s requirements
- Identify effective use of visual display, such as graphs, charts, tables, and diagrams
- Class exercises with instructor feedback
Improving and Refining Documents
- Revise, refine, and proofread EHS documents for effectiveness
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Technical Communications
Gabrielle McDonald is a technical writer, ISO 14001 Certified Auditor, and CPEA-trained environmental compliance auditor. She has nearly 20 years of experience working with private and public organizations providing consulting and training programs, and serving as the primary author of hundreds of EHS documents. As program manager and division manager, she has been directly responsible for managing the document development process, including writer assignments and coaching, drafting critical portions of EHS documents, and the document review and approval process.
Suzanne Digre has 20 years of experience in the publications industry developing, writing, and editing technical documents, training guides, website content, journal articles, and policies and procedures. As lead technical writer at Macromedia, Inc., Suzanne managed all aspects of writing, editing, and delivering the RoboHelp suite of publications, which served 30,000 customers worldwide. Her work on RoboHelp manuals and online content earned the Distinguished Technical Communications Award and an Excellence Award from the Society for Technical Communication. In addition to work in the publications field, Suzanne provides content and coaching to clients in the US and internationally. She currently provides editing services to the National Park Service in support of land use planning documents and other EHS communications. Suzanne holds a B.A. in Journalism from Metropolitan State University of Denver and a Poynter ACES Certificate in Editing.