Legibility and Format

DOE-STD-1035-93

4.4 Legibility and Format

Maintaining logs as both working documents and permanent legal records requires

precautions to preserve the physical integrity of the log. Logs should be maintained in a

hard-bound ledger with numbered pages, or in a duplicate-type book with numbered pages.

Waterproof black ink is recommended for all logkeeping.

Facilities should provide a method for identifying the persons who make entries in the log.

One method is to list the printed name, signature, and initials of all persons making log

entries. This may be done as part of the initial entry, or on a separate page or form

maintained with the log.

Entries in the log should be easy for others to read and understand. All persons maintaining

a log should ensure that their handwriting can be easily read by others. The language and

style of writing should be in keeping with the intent of a narrative record of operation;

language should be similar to the language one would use if describing the events to another

operator or supervisor. Acronyms and abbreviations should come from an approved list.

Log entries should be reproducible on standard photocopy machines. If colored ink or

highlight pens are used to draw attention to entries, a check should be performed to ensure

that the log text is not obscured, either in the original or when copying.

Detailed instructions for log format should be contained in facility guidelines. The

following subsections, and the example log entries in Appendix A, contain information that

may be helpful in developing the facility guidelines.

4.4.1

General Format

It should be difficult or impossible to alter or add to the entries contained in the

log. All lines on the page should be used, or marked in a manner that designates

them as not used. As a good practice, lines should not be skipped between or

within entries. Unruled spaces on the log page (e.g., the margin at the top of the

page) should not be used for log entries.

The date should be recorded on each page. Entries should be formatted so that

a person reading the log can determine at a glance the date and time of the entry.