GENERAL

The purpose of this safe operating procedure (SOP) process is to assist a user (employer) in reviewing and updating an existing procedure for the user's organisation in order to ensure the procedure remains current and relevant to the task or process that it describes.

WHO NEEDS TO DO THIS?

This safe operating procedure (SOP) process is intended for all companies who need to ensure that any safe operating procedures within their organisation remain current and relevant.

WHY IS THIS PROCEDURE IMPORTANT?

This safe operating procedure (SOP) process is important because it plays an important role in assisting the employer in ensuring existing safe operating procedures for the organisation remain current and relevant and where they are not, that they are updated to make them so.

Changes in operations (machinery, legislation, technology, etc) are a common fact of the workplace as existing tasks or processes are improved or new tasks or processes are introduced. Reviewing existing safe operating procedures (SOPs) that may be affected through these changes plays an important role in ensuring they remain current and relevant and so effective in providing clear guidelines on the tasks or processes they describe.

Alternately, near-misses or incidents may occur that require a review of the procedure to determine gaps and close these in order to prevent recurrences from happening. These reviews and updates provide evidence to an inspector that an organisation is maintaining its safe operating procedures (SOPs) and is therefore ensuring they remain current, relevant and effective in assisting in ensuring work safely in the workplace.

VALIDITY

This safe operating procedure (SOP) must be relevant and appropriate to the tasks or process it describes and must display suitable revision information to indicate which revision is the correct and current version. It must be formally signed off to indicate approval from management of any changes. It must be easily accessible to employees and any changes must be communicated to all employees who conduct the task or process or who may be affected by the task or process. This safe operating procedure (SOP) must remain current and up-to-date.

COSTING

This safe operating procedure (SOP) process is costed per existing safe operating procedure (SOP) which means the displayed cost is per existing safe operating procedure (SOP) reviewed. For example, if a user requires 10 (ten) existing safe operating procedures (SOPs) to be reviewed, the order should be made for the total number of safe operating procedures (SOPs):

Existing safe operating procedures (SOPs) require 10(ten) to be reviewed = 10.

Cost of order = 10 x cost per existing safe operating procedure (SOP) (add this product 10 times in the SafetyShop).