Sample Standard Operating Procedures

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) can be helpful in a multitude of circumstances. They are used as a tool in training new employees as well as a tool to ensure the consistency of how procedures are carried out by existing employees. When protocol is in question a good SOP will cover how an issue should be handled. It is common for one to be written for every procedure or operation that is .

Standard operating procedures are a must in many different fields, including the military, healthcare and police organizations. These procedures detail exactly what steps are done during a process. These written documents make it simple for everyone within the organization to know what to do in the event of certain situations and procedures, which helps ensure that everyone is on the same page.Many companies start out with no standard operating procedures and someone is charged with writing them. Reviewing sample procedures online can help simplify this process and make it easier. The Environmental Protection Agency has a well thought out and detailed manual on preparing these procedures, which is located at http://www.epa.gov/quality/qs-docs/g6-final.pdf. This guide provides insight into how to set up a quality system management procedure, which can easily translate to other organizations as well. It also gives plenty of detail on what the procedures should entail and how it gets reviewed prior to publishing.Standard operating procedures are especially important in the food safety industry. Employees must know how to properly prepare and take care of food and hygiene within the business. The National Food Service Management Institute, run by the United States Department of Agriculture, has sample standard operating procedures for restaurants, cooks and others in the food industry to review. They are found at http://sop.nfsmi.org/HACCPBasedSOPs.php, and contain information on sanitizing food, work areas and other surfaces. There is also information about dealing with potentially hazardous food, storing chemicals and handling food recalls.While these examples cover fairly specific standard operating procedures, they also give an idea of how to write any type of procedural document. It must contain all of the necessary steps laid out in a manner that any employee can understand. The document is then reviewed and altered as needed, prior to getting printed and dispersed to all employees.