Glossary · Safe work, maintenance and competence
Safe operating procedure (SOP)
Also known as: SOP, standard operating procedure
In occupational safety, a safe operating procedure (SOP) is a controlled procedure defining how a task is performed safely and consistently, including the hazards, the controls and the required competence.
- Machine safety
- Technical documentation
- Human factors
In one sentence
A safe operating procedure (SOP) is a controlled, step-by-step description of how a site task is done safely and consistently.
Example
The SOP for changing the film roll on a stretch wrapper lists the required PPE, the stop and lockout steps, the use of the roll lifter and the checks before restart, and it is posted at the machine.
How it applies
- Technical documentation: SOPs are usually written by the operator from the manufacturer’s instructions and the job hazard analysis. They must not contradict the operating manual; where site conditions require deviations, record the reason.
- Human factors: Short steps, one action each, with warnings placed before the step they concern. Test the SOP with the people who will use it.
- Evidence: As a controlled document, an SOP has an owner, a version and a review date. An outdated SOP at the machine is a common audit finding.
- AI and retrieval: Structured procedures, for example written as a DITA task, keep steps, warnings and prerequisites separate, so they stay together when content is reused or retrieved.
Safe operating procedure vs. operating manual
The operating manual is the manufacturer’s information for use for the machine. An SOP describes how a specific site performs a task with that machine.