Standard Operating Procedures (SOP)

A Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) clearly outlines precautions related to specific operations or experiments. Chemical hazard bands provide general SOPs for categories of chemicals such as flammables. Higher hazard chemicals may require a chemical-specific SOP with more detail. Common or high hazard processes require process SOPs.

Creating SOPs

Step 1: Chemical Inventory
Update the lab UC Chemicals by adding new chemicals when they arrive and removing chemicals that have been completely used and their container disposed.

Step 2: Banded SOPs
Print the Chemical Band Specific SOPs relevant to your lab as identified by UC Chemicals from the list below. Complete the “Lab Specific Use Procedures”.

Step 3: Chemical Specific SOPs
Print chemical-specific SOPs available from the UCLA Center for Laboratory Safety SOP Library or other sources, for chemicals requiring a specific SOP as identified by UC Chemicals and complete the section “Protocol/Procedure”.

Step 4: Process SOPs
Create process SOPs for commonly used and highest hazard processes. Select from the Hazardous Operations SOPs list below or work with EHS to identify and create them.

Step 5: Training and Signature
Add the SOPs to the lab safety binder and ensure anyone working in the lab reviews and understands the SOPs and signs them.

Chemical Band-specific SOPs

The SOP templates below are to be used to write your laboratory-specific SOPs. All sections on the SOP template must be completed. All SOPs must be reviewed, approved, and signed by the Principal Investigator. Laboratory members must review and sign the SOPs that apply to their research and be documented in the SOS binder.

Primary Chemical Bands

Secondary Chemical Bands

Biosafety-specific SOPs

Chemical Specific SOPs

SOP templates available from the UCLA Center for Laboratory Safety SOP Library can be utilized to write laboratory chemical specific SOPs. All sections on the SOP template must be completed. Please refer to the corresponding Safety Data Sheet (SDS) from the same manufacturer of the chemical to include important information on the SOPs per the manufacturer recommendations. All SOPs must be reviewed, approved, and signed by the Principal Investigator. Laboratory members must review and sign the SOPs that apply to their research. These SOPs should be maintained in the labs Laboratory Safety binder.

Hazardous Operations SOPs

Additional Resources

For additional assistance in developing SOPs, contact the EHS School Coordinators for your area or email safety@uci.edu .