4.1 Standard Operating Procedures
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are a core element of laboratory safety and are required under the OSHA Laboratory Standard (29 CFR 1910.1450) as part of a Chemical Hygiene Plan. SOPs document how work is performed and identify the health and safety considerations necessary to reduce risk when working with hazardous chemicals or hazardous operations.
SOPs help ensure that laboratory work is planned, hazards are understood, and controls are applied consistently. They also support effective training, continuity of operations, and shared understanding within a research group.
What qualifies as an SOP
SOPs may be stand-alone documents or incorporated into other laboratory records, such as research notebooks, experiment protocols, or equipment manuals. Regardless of format, SOPs must clearly address the safety and health considerations relevant to the work being performed.
Minimum SOP content
At a minimum, SOPs should address:
- The chemicals, materials, or equipment involved and their hazards
- Task-specific or non-routine hazards
- Required engineering controls (e.g., fume hoods, shielding, interlocks)
- Required personal protective equipment (PPE)
- Spill or incident response measures
- Waste handling and disposal procedures
- Decontamination or shutdown procedures
- A high-level description of how the task or operation is performed
When SOPs are required
SOPs are required for work involving hazardous chemicals and should also be developed for equipment or operations that pose physical hazards. Examples include, but are not limited to:
- Work with particularly hazardous chemicals (e.g., hydrofluoric acid, pyrophorics)
- Laser operations
- Use of cryogenic liquids and fill procedures
- Compressed gas cylinder handling and regulator changes
- High-voltage or high-energy equipment
Using existing information
SOPs do not need to be lengthy documents. It is acceptable and often appropriate to reference existing materials, provided expectations are clear. Examples include:
“Chemical hazards are described in the SDS; review the SDS before use.”
“When performing this task, wear safety goggles, nitrile gloves, and a lab coat.”
Roles and responsibilities
Principal Investigators and laboratory supervisors are responsible for ensuring that SOPs incorporating relevant health and safety considerations are developed for work conducted in their laboratories. They are also responsible for ensuring that laboratory personnel are trained on applicable SOPs before performing the work.
EHS provides guidance and assistance with SOP development but does not generate SOPs on behalf of laboratories. SOPs must reflect the specific materials, equipment, and practices used by each research group.