Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
SOPs. should. be. readily. accessible. to. employees. who. work. with. or. maintain. a.
process.or.operation..They.should.be.reviewed.as.often.as.necessary.to.ensure.that.
they.relect.current.operating.practice,.including.changes.that.result.from.changes.in.
the.process.or.procedures.due.to.new.understanding.or.requirements.of.technology,.
equipment,.and.facilities.
The.employer.should.develop.and.implement.safe.work.practices.to.provide.for.
the. control. of. hazards. during. operations. such. as. equipment/machine. operation,.
lockout/tagout,.conined.space.entry,.opening.process.equipment.or.piping,.and.con-
trol.over.an.entrance.into.a.facility.by.maintenance,.contractor,.laboratory,.or.other.
support.personnel..These.safe.work.practices.must.apply.to.both.company.employees.
and.contract.employees.
guIdelInes For WrItIng An soP
SOPs.are.often.poorly.written.because.little.thought.is.given.or.effort.made.to.get.them.
right..At.times.they.are.mandated.as.a.quick.ix.for.a.perceived.problem..An.orga-
nized.and.thoughtful.approach.will.yield.SOPs.that.are.truly.usable.by.the.workers.
SOPs.should.be.written.in.a.concise,.step-by-step,.and.easy-to-read.format..The.
information.presented.should.be.unambiguous.and.not.overly.complicated..The.active.
voice.and.present.verb.tense.should.be.used..The.term.“you”.should.not.be.used,.but.
implied.. The. document. should. not. be. wordy,. redundant,. or. overly. lengthy.. Keep. it.
simple. and. short.. Information. should. be. conveyed. clearly. and. explicitly. to. remove.
any.doubt.as.to.what.is.required..Also,.use.a.lowchart.to.illustrate.the.process.being.
described..Here.are.some.guidelines.for.writing.an.SOP:
.
1.. Decide.what.SOPs.must.be.written.based.upon.a.review.of.organizational.
functions.
.
2.. Check.to.see.if.there.is.an.existing.SOP.that.can.be.revised.or.updated.
.
3.. Gather. information. on. the. procedure. from. reference. sources. and. knowl-
edgeable. employees.. When. possible,. contact. other. agencies. performing.
similar.functions.to.see.if.they.have.an.SOP,.and.request.a.copy.to.use.as.a.
guide.or.source.of.ideas.
.
4.. Select.a.suitable.format.for.the.SOP.to.be.written..(See.example.in.Table 13.1.)
.
5.. Assemble.blank.forms.and.any.other.documents.to.refer.to.in.the.SOP.
.
6.. Write.a.draft.of.the.SOP..Include.copies.of.any.blank.forms.or.speciic.refer-
ences.referred.to.in.the.SOP.
.
7.. Review,.or.have.a.fellow.employee.review,.the.draft.SOP.for.technical.adequacy.
.
8.. Request.that.the.draft.SOP.be.reviewed.for.administrative.adequacy.by.the.
supervisor.or.the.oficer.in.charge.
.
9.. Incorporate.any.changes.indicated.by.the.reviews.into.a.inal.draft.
.
10.. Date,.sign,.assign.a.ile.number,.and.distribute.the.new.or.revised.SOP..The.
inal.copy.should.be.signed.both.by.the.oficial.responsible.for.preparing.
the. SOP. and. by. the. oficial's. supervisor. or. the. oficial. in. charge.. Copies.
should.be.provided.to.supervisors.and.oficers.in.charge.of.the.immediate.
organization;.they.should.be.posted.in.an.SOP.ile.for.ready.reference.
