If you operate a chemical laboratory as defined in Washington Administrative Code 296-828, Using Hazardous Chemicals in Laboratories, you must have standard operating procedures (SOPs) that describe the safety measures for using, storing, and disposing of chemicals in your lab.
A blank SOP template and example SOPs are provided below to assist you with creating SOPs for your specific location, procedures, and use.
Blank SOP Template
UW personnel using hazardous chemicals can modify this template to document processes and safety measures.
Example SOPs
Below are links to example SOPs and guidance documents which can be used to assist in the development of your site-specific SOP.
- 2-Mercaptoethanol
- 4-Aminopyridine SOP
- Acid Piranha SOP
- Acrolein SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Acrylamide Use SOP
- Acutely Toxic Chemicals SOP
- Alkali Metals SOP
- Ammonium Chloride SOP
- Anesthetic Gases Safe Use Guidelines
- Aqua Regia SOP
- Benzene Use SOP
- Biotoxin SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Carmustin SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Chemotherapy and Other Hazardous Drugs SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Chloroform SOP
- Compressed Gas SOP
- Cyanides SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Cyclosporin A SOP
- Dichloromethane / Methylene Chloride SOP
- Diphtheria toxin SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Ethidium Bromide Use SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Flammable Liquids SOP
- Flammable Solids SOP
- Formaldehyde Use SOP
- Hydrochloric Acid SOP
- Hydrofluoric Acid SOP
- Hydrogen Peroxide SOP
- Inorganic Acid SOP
- Inorganic Base Use SOP
- Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Mercury Use SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Metallic Lead SOP
- MPTP SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- MS-222 and Benzocaine SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Nanomaterials SOP
- Nitric Acid SOP
- Organic Acid SOP
- Oxidizer Use SOP
- Passive Scavenging Using Charcoal Canisters SOP
- Perchloric Acid SOP
- Perfluoropolyether SOP
- Peroxide-Forming SOP
- Phenol Use SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Pyrophoric Materials SOP
- Sodium Azide SOP
- Trifluoroacetic Acid SOP
This type of SOP is frequently used when a process is completely described from first step to last and activities such as fume hood use, varying PPE use, and waste neutralization are integrated into the steps. The EH&S template SOP may not be useful for this type of SOP except to cover items difficult to organize in a logical manner in the procedure, such as spill cleanup, perhaps.
- Carbonate Removal SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Extractions Using Heavy Liquid SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Bonding and Grounding for flammable liquids dispensing
- Agents in Animal Drinking Water or Feed SOPs
- Sample Preparation Using Ethanol SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
- Soldering SOP
- Solvent Distillation Process SOP (Please contact labcheck@uw.edu to request this SOP.)
Required elements
An SOP can address a single chemical, a group of similar chemicals, or a process.
Any format of SOP is acceptable provided the minimum safety elements are addressed.
Use the SOP Required Elements Checklist to ensure all required safety elements are present in an existing SOP.
Safe use guidelines
Refer to the Specific Chemical Hazards page for links to safe use guidelines for specific chemicals.
More information
Please refer to Section 6 of the UW Laboratory Safety Manual for more information.