Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
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9.. Procedure.or.action.within.an.organization.is.repetitive.and.is.carried.out.in.
the.same.way.each.time.
.
10.. Procedure. is. critically. important,. no. matter. how. seldom. performed,. and.
must.be.carried.out.exactly.according.to.detailed,.step-wise.instructions.
.
11.. Need.to.standardize.the.way.a.procedure.is.carried.out.for.ensuring.quality.
control.or.system.compatibility.
When.airline.pilots.ly,.the.most.critical.parts.of.the.job.are.takeoffs.and.land-
ings..Because.these.are.such.crucial.aspects.of.lying,.a.checklist.for.proceeding.in.a.
safe.manner.is.used.to.mitigate.the.potential.for.mistakes..It.is.vital.to.provide.help.
when.a.chance.for.error.can.result.in.grave.consequences..Similarly,.laminated.SOPs.
should.be.placed.on.equipment,.machines,.and.vehicles.for.individuals.who.need.a.
refresher.prior.to.operation.because.they.have.not.used.the.equipment.or.have.per-
formed.a.task.on.an.infrequent.basis.
Few.people.or.workers.want.to.admit.that.they.do.not.know.how.to.perform.a.job.or.
task..They.will.not.ask.questions,.let.alone.ask.for.help.in.doing.an.assigned.task..This.is.
the.time.when.a.laminated.SOP.or.checklist.could.be.placed.at.the.worksite.or.attached.to.
a.piece.of.equipment..This.can.prove.to.be.a.very.effective.accident.prevention.technique..
It.can.safely.walk.a.worker.through.the.correct.sequence.of.necessary.steps.and.thus.
avoid.the.exposure.to.hazards.that.can.put.the.worker.at.risk.of.injury,.illness,.or.death.
These.SOPs.could.be.used.when.helicopters.are.employed.for.lifting,.industrial.
forklifts.are.utilized,.materials.are.moved.manually,.etc..They.should.list.the.sequen-
tial.steps.required.in.order.to.perform.the.job.or.task.safely,.the.potential.hazards.
involved,.and.the.personal.protective.equipment.needed..Each.step.in.the.SOP.should.
provide.all.the.information.required.to.accomplish.the.task.in.a.safe.manner.
If.there.is.no.annual.training,.then.the.use.of.SOPs.may.instill.conidence.in.the.
workers.that.they.have.a.way.of.refreshing.their.memories.on.how.to.do.their.tasks..
When.changing.procedures,.the.SOP.should.be.updated.to.ensure.that.the.changed.
procedure.is.performed.safely..A.checklist.is.one.form.of.SOP..The.checklist.is.very.
effective.when.you.are.trying.to.make.sure.that.every.step.is.being.accomplished.
SOPs.are.only.useful.when.they.are.up-to-date.and.readily.accessible.at.the.actual.
job.or.task.site..Because.we.have.the.ability.to.store.SOPs.in.the.computer,.revisions.
can.be.made.simply.and.are.therefore.easily.changed.if.you.receive.good.suggestions.
from.supervisors.or.workers..Figure 13.1.shows.a.picture.of.a.forklift.and.Table 13.1.
shows.an.example.SOP.for.a.forklift..Using.the.format.from.this.example,.develop.
your.own.SOPs.for.procedures,.jobs,.tasks,.or.equipment.
An. SOP. is. only. one. accident. prevention. technique. or. component. of. any. safety.
and.health.initiative..There.are.speciic.jobs.or.tasks.that.lend.themselves.well.to.this.
approach..Make.sure.that.SOPs.are.used.when.they.beneit.the.type.of.work.being.
performed.the.most,.and.not.as.a.cure-all.for.all.accidents.and.injuries..Use.them.as.
one.of.the.many.tools.for.accident.prevention.
comPonents oF An soP
SOPs. are. intended. to. provide. clear. instructions. for. safely. conducting. activities.
involved.in.each.procedure.covered..They.help.ensure.consistent.work.activity.using.
