Creating Standard Operating Procedures

Summary: The PI/Lab Supervisor is responsible for providing written Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) relevant to health and safety for laboratory activities he/she directs involving hazardous chemicals. Laboratory personnel working autonomously or performing independent research are responsible for developing SOPs appropriate for their own work using the guidance below.

Priority for SOP development should be given to any operation involving Restricted Chemicals, certain higher risk chemicals, such as particularly hazardous chemicals and highly reactive chemicals and specified higher risk research procedures described in the CHP.

The scope of an SOP can cover:

  • The specific use of a chemical or class of chemicals (such as a specific laboratory procedure).
  • The generic use specific chemical or class of chemicals with similar hazards (for example, mineral acids).
  • A generic procedure (such as distillation) that covers several chemicals.

General use SOPs for the major classes of hazardous chemicals are available for you to incorporate into your own SOPs, as appropriate.
They can be found in the online Toolkit's "Reference Info" section.

What to do? How to do this?

1. Prioritize SOPs to generate

Consult with PI/Laboratory Supervisor on above guidance.

2. Create SOPs

Follow Guide to Creating Standard Operating Procedures

 

Guide to Creating Standard Operating Procedures

 

Below are the minimum elements that must be covered in an SOP:

Document Heading:

  • Title -- Title of specific research process or experiment
  • Author -- Author of the document
  • Date -- Date document was created or revised
  • Name of Responsible Person -- The Principal Investigator, Laboratory Supervisor, or Autonomous Researcher who is responsible for the research process or experiment
  • Location of Work -- Laboratory room(s) and location(s) where the SOP applies

1. Process or Experiment Description

  • Description of the process or experiment that the SOP covers. This process may be described in general terms, such as “extraction” and “distillation” or in more detailed terms such as “spectrophotometer analysis of cholester extraction.”
  • List the expected duration and frequency of the research process or experiment.

2. Risk Assessment

  • Possible risks involved with failure to follow SOP. Identify specific potential hazards (e.g., flammability, corrosivity, reactivity/explosion, acute toxicity, carcinogenicity).

3. Safety Equipment

Specify all equipment needed to safely perform research process or experiment.

  • Engineering/ventilation controls (e.g., fume hood use, explosion shielding, equipment interlocks)
  • Personal protective equipment (for gloves, specify appropriate type)
  • Location of necessary emergency safety equipment (e.g., eyewash/showers, fire extinguishers, fire alarms).

4. Designated Area

Indicate the specific designated area(s) for work with particularly hazardous chemicals. The entire laboratory, a portion of the laboratory or a laboratory fume hood may be considered as a designated area.

5. Step-by-Step Operating Procedure

Sequential description of work, including details such as chemical concentrations and when special safety equipment is to be utilized.

6. Special Handling Procedures and Storage Requirements

  • Describe special storage requirements for hazardous chemicals in your laboratory. (e.g., Store all hydrofluoric acid (HF) and HF waste in labeled chemically compatible containers (e.g., polyethylene or Teflon). Many common materials will degrade from contact with HF. Place containers in polyethylene secondary containment trays).
  • Describe safe methods of transporting chemicals, such as using bottle carriers.

7. Decontamination

  • Indicate any specific decontamination procedures for personnel, equipment, or areas.

8. Emergency Procedures

9. Waste Disposal

Determine amounts of waste anticipated and appropriate disposal procedures.

10. Training Requirements

  • List the general and lab-specific trainings required –
    • General health and safety training includes, but is not limited to:
      • General Safety & Emergency Preparedness (EHS-4200)
      • Chemical Safety for Laboratories (EHS-1900)
      • Compressed Gas Safety (EHS 2200), as needed
      • Biosafety (EHS-1500), as needed
      • Radiation Safety (EHS-5250), as needed
      • Fire Extinguisher Use (EHS 3400), as needed
    • Lab-specific training includes, but is not limited to:
      • Laboratory Orientation
      • Review of Standard Operating Procedures
      • Review of MSDSs for chemicals used

11. Approval Required

Laboratory personnel shall seek and the PI/Laboratory Supervisor must provide prior approval of any chemical usage involving Restricted Chemicals. PI/Laboratory Supervisors should be consulted on higher hazard chemicals usage and operations.

 

STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURE

Procedure Title
Procedure Author
Date of Creation/Revision
Name of Responsible Person
(The PI, Lab Supervisor, or Autonomous Researcher)
Location to be Performed (building/lab #)

#1 Process or Experiment Description: Describe the process or experiment, including an estimate of how long the process takes and how frequently it will be conducted.
#2 Risk Assessment: Describe the possible rists involved with failure to follow SOP. Identify potential safety hazards. For chemical hazards, be specific (e.g. flammability, corrosivity, reactivity/explosion, acute toxicity, or carcinogenicity).
#3 Safety Equipment: Specify all equipment needed to safetly perform research or experiment.

#3a Engineering/Ventilation Controls: (e.g. fume hood use, explosion shielding, equipment interlocks)

 

#3b Personel Protective Equipment and Other Safety Equipment: (for gloves, specify appropriate type)

 

#3c Location of Nearest Emergency Safety Equipment:

Item: Location:
Eyewash/Safety Shower
First Aid Kit
Chemical Spill Kit
Fire Extinguisher
Telephone
Fire Alarm Manual Pull Station
 
 

 
#4 Designated Area: Where carcinogens, highly acutely toxic materials, or reproductive toxins are used, identify the designated work area(s), and the necessary personnel decontamination after completion of work. For example, check the general use SOP for Carcinogens.
#5 Step-By-Step Operating Procedure: Provide a sequential description of work, including details such as chemical concentrations and when special safety equipment is to be utilized.
#6 Special Handling Procedures and Storage Requirements: Describe special handling and storage requirements for hazardous chemicals in your laboratory, especially for highly reactive/ unstable materials, highly flammables, and corrosives.
#7 Decontamination: Indicate any specific decontamination procedures for personnel, equipment, or areas.
#8 Emergency Procedures: Indicate how spills, personnel exposure/ injury, and other accidents should be handled and by whom. List emergency contact numbers (PI, EH&S spill assistance x5-9999, x9-911 (x286 in School of Medicine)).
#9 Waste Disposal: Identify amounts of waste anticipated and appropriate disposal procedures.
#10 Training Requirements: List the general and lab-specific trainings required
#11 Approval Required: Identify any tasks that require prior approval by the PI/ Laboratory Supervisor (e.g., use of Restricted Chemicals and other higher hazard chemicals, and running of higher hazard operations)

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