Standard Operating Procedure Templates & SOP Checklists
Track performance of standard operating procedures and improve workplace efficiency
Track performance of standard operating procedures and improve workplace efficiency
Published 16 Feb 2022
A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) is a standardized process that outlines a set of detailed instructions to help workers perform complex tasks properly and safely. The main objective of standard operating procedures is to develop an effective quality system and comply with industry-specific regulations and standards. Failure to follow SOPs can cause significant errors in production and operations, increasing unwanted work variations.
This standard operating procedure template can be used as a guide when creating a simple and easy-to-use SOP. This SOP template contains sample categories and information as examples to illustrate how you can build your own SOP template based on your business needs.
An SOP template is a document format used to create an organization’s standard operating procedures and avoid common mistakes such as making them too long that no one will read them. SOP templates are also step-by-step in nature and used to prevent being too detailed that people could subjectively interpret standard operating procedures or too negative that people will not be encouraged to do them.
Using a well-designed standard operating procedure template, or standard operating procedure form, makes it easier for managers and employees to put the best practices for a specific job to be done or an established business process into a clearly-communicated, systematically-written document.
SOPs are commonly used across different industries such as manufacturing, hospitality, construction, and pharmaceutical industries. These procedures are designed for:
Businesses often do not invest enough resources into creating SOPs for their workforce. Often cited reasons include the significant time investment required, limited trained staff to create them and difficulties with tracking whether staff use and perform them.
However, there are significant benefits of incorporating an SOP into a workplace which should encourage trainers and managers to invest the relevant time into building SOPs. Here are just 4 benefits of using an SOP in your workplace:
Variations in work processes can compromise quality and work efficiency. Implementing SOPs help prevent this scenario by helping to standardizing all critical processes and reduce work variations. SOPs also assist with improving the Quality Management System (QMS) and can prepare the organization to pass relevant ISO certification and comply with regulatory requirements.
Common food manufacturing SOPs cover tasks such as handwashing, cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces, and proper packaging process. This applies to all the employees working in the facility to maintain food safety standards and prevent contamination of food, ingredients and packaging materials.
SOPs complement training materials to educate workers and serve as a guide for onboarding new hires. Senior staff with relevant job experience should also be involved in drafting the SOP procedures and steps. SOPs are an effective tool to supplement classroom and supervised training as workers can follow steps at their own pace when performing their duties.
Common pharmaceutical SOPs cover tasks such as dispensing, sourcing of medicines, and expiry date checking. SOPs help ensure that pharmacists assist in protecting the safety of the patients and reduce unintended omissions and errors in dispensing correct drugs to patients.
Following SOPs can help ensure consistent and high-quality delivery or products and services. It helps improve and maintain brand standards and customer satisfaction. This is important to ensure smooth business operations and overall profitability.
Common hotel SOPs cover tasks such as general housekeeping, bed making, dining, and performing pest control treatments. This is essential to maintain the quality and consistency of service and standards in a hotel and provide good customer care and experience.
SOPs describe in detail how to safely perform work involving hazardous processes, materials, equipment, and conditions. These procedures help reinforce strict compliance in safety protocols to prevent unforeseen accidents and fatalities.
Common construction SOPs cover tasks such as toolbox talk or pre-work meetings, risk assessments, and job safety analysis. This is vital to discuss and evaluate high-risk tasks that workers will perform and develop ways on how to perform these tasks safely.
When creating an effective and comprehensive SOP, steps to consider include:
Writing an SOP, with the use of SOP templates, depends on the purpose, industry, and audience and can vary from process manuals to checklists or flow diagrams. That said, an effective SOP should focus on three key areas:
SOP Purpose Example (office housekeeping):
The purpose of this SOP is to outline housekeeping services and to ensure that workstations are free of debris and clutter. This is vital to maintaining a safe work environment and to prevent any minor or major incidents from occurring.
SOP Scope Example (office housekeeping):
This standard operating procedure is intended to guide facility management staff in covering the following office housekeeping duties:
– Window cleaning
– Carpet care
– Dusting
– Waste disposal
This document does not cover identifying equipment damage and repair work. Refer to the office incident report SOP for those tasks.
Paper based SOP documents make it challenging to track whether staff are following and completing the procedures in their daily duties. iAuditor by SafetyCulture is an effective digital SOP tool to make it easier for staff to use and provide visibility and record keeping to trainers and managers that tasks are being completed properly.
This standard operating procedure template for housekeeping is used by compliance teams to evaluate if staff comply with the general office standard operating procedures when cleaning overhead lighting fixtures and Venetian blinds. This housekeeping SOP template can also be used as a confirm-do checklist for a housekeeper's ultimate guide when performing cleaning duties. Using a mobile device, read the instructions in the template before performing each task. You may add some photo evidence for each task that you completed. After finishing the task, affix a digital signature for confirmation.
A Housekeeping SOP Checklist is used as a guide to ensure that the standard cleaning protocols set by an establishment are followed. This checklist can be used by housekeepers, cleaners, and housekeeping managers to ensure that rooms are clean and adequately prepared before allowing the next guest to check-in.
A food manufacturing SOP template is used to evaluate if workers adhere to standard food manufacturing protocols such as handwashing, cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces before proceeding with the food production process. This can also guide workers to prevent unintended omissions and ensure product quality.
A tablet compression SOP template is used to ensure that the correct steps are taken by lab personnel when using the tablet press. This can be used by lab supervisors when doing walkthrough inspections and SOP compliance observations.
This packaging standard operating procedure checklist is used by GMP Consulting Services, Inc. for their Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) audits for Pharmaceuticals. Use this comprehensive SOP checklist to easily assess pass/fail criteria in the facility and grounds, warehouse, receiving, powder filling, liquid filling, packaging, maintenance, quality control, quality assurance, and documentation.
A kitchen SOP template is used to check if kitchen staff adhere to standards and best practices designed to maintain a safe, hygienic kitchen environment. This template can help guide kitchen staff in delivering efficient service and performing their kitchen duties in a timely manner.
This General Kitchen Cleaning SOP Checklist can help maintain a clean and sanitized restaurant. Conduct your inspections using this checklist to evaluate if employees wear hygienic clothing and if food is properly handled. This also checks if kitchen facilities are cleaned and sanitized properly after use, and waste materials are segregated and properly disposed of. Provide your recommendations and overall assessment after the inspection. Use iAuditor on your mobile device to generate on-site reports and capture photo evidence of defective items.
This USDA SOP template is used to prevent foodborne illness by ensuring that all food contact surfaces are properly cleaned and sanitized. This standard operating procedure applies to food service employees involved in cleaning and sanitizing food contact surfaces.
A food contact surfaces SOP checklist is used by food service employees to ensure that kitchen equipment and kitchenware are cleaned and sanitized before and after use to avoid foodborne illnesses and allergies.
This USDA SOP template is used to prevent foodborne illness by ensuring that all items held on food bars are protected from contamination. This procedure applies to anyone who is responsible for maintaining and monitoring the self-service food bars.
Use this preventive food defense procedures checklist to check for proactive steps taken to maintain food safety and prepare for the official GAP audit.
This comprehensive SOP checklist can be used by supervisors to check housekeeper duties and evaluate their adherence to housekeeping SOPs. It can also be utilized to verify if hotel staff and amenities comply with hotel safety regulations and housekeeping standards. This checklist converted using iAuditor uses dynamic field feature which allows you to label or identify individual rooms and conduct inspections with specific recurring questions.
This Corridor Cleaning and Maintenance SOP checklist can be used by housekeepers and cleaners can as a step-by-step guide to the proper process of sweeping, dusting, and cleaning the hotel and office corridors.
This Bathroom Cleaning SOP Checklist can be used by housekeepers and cleaners as a step-by-step guide to the proper process for cleaning bathroom tiles, mirrors, and drains and ensure SOP compliance.
This laboratory SOP template is used by the Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) to perform proper process hazard assessment of hazardous materials and physical hazards prior to using a chemical laboratory. Use this SOP template to efficiently review exposure controls, engineering controls, PPE, storage and handling requirements, waste management, decontamination procedures, and emergency procedures. A proficiency and authorization statement is also included in this mobile-ready SOP template.
A fumigation procedure template is used by a vessel’s officer-in-charge as a guide to ensure efficacy and safety when certified fumigators apply fumigants onboard. Use this template to easily adhere to USDA-approved fumigation procedure, from suitability verification to recordkeeping and monitoring. This template has been designed to make it easier for crew members to:
This confined space entry SOP checklist is based on OSHA standard operating procedure. The primary goal of this inspection is to check if safety regulations are followed by workers before, during and after work. Use iAuditor to capture significant data while inspecting the area, equipment and people involved. Share your audits with your supervisors and safety managers while on site.
This lockout tagout SOP checklist is based on OSHA standard operating procedure. This inspection aims to evaluate if LOTO procedures are followed by employees before commencing with the maintenance checks. With the use of iAuditor, you can capture photo evidence of non compliance with the safety regulations while the lockout procedure is going on. Notify safety managers if problems occur during the inspection for immediate actions and resolution.
This SOP template is used by Australian Drilling Contractor, Coughlan Drilling, as their general standard operating procedure guidelines prior to operational tasks. This generic construction SOP template can be used as pre-task checklist to ensure proper PPE, hazard identification, and workers sign off. This SOP template can also be used to take photos of each task step and add descriptions.
A management of change procedure template helps safety officers identify and control occupational health and safety risks brought by organizational changes. Use this MOC template to review operational procedures and determine changes and the risks that may occur. Help the organization comply with legal and industry standards for workplace health and safety using iAuditor. With iAuditor, you can:
This office SOP template can be used by Human Resources (HR) professionals to implement standard operating procedures for employee offboarding. Ensure a seamless separation for the exiting employee. HR staff can use this as a guide to: