SOP examples: 5 standard operating procedures

Five short, complete SOPs from hotels, kitchens and warehouses. Each one has a purpose, the safety rules and numbered steps. Copy one into our free SOP template and change it to fit your site.

These examples are general. Your equipment, products, site rules and local law come first — have every SOP checked and approved before use.

Hotel guest room cleaning (checkout room) — SOP example

Area

Housekeeping

Done by

Room attendant

Purpose. Clean a checkout room to the hotel's standard in the planned time, safely and in the same order every time.

Safety. Gloves for cleaning bathrooms and handling linen; closed shoes. Never mix cleaning chemicals. Use the room's door stopper or cart to keep the door open while you work.

Step	Action	Key point / warning
1	Knock three times, say "Housekeeping", wait, then enter. Leave the door open with the cart across it.	If a guest is inside, apologise and leave. Report it.
2	Open curtains and windows if allowed. Switch on all lights and check that they work.	Report broken lights on the maintenance list.
3	Collect rubbish and used linen. Put them in the cart bags, not on the floor.	Check under the bed and in drawers for guest property. Hand it in to lost property.
4	Spray the bathroom with the bathroom cleaner and leave it to work.	Follow the contact time on the label.
5	Make the bed with fresh linen.	Bend your knees when you lift the mattress corner.
6	Dust from top to bottom: lamps, shelves, headboard, furniture.
7	Clean the bathroom: toilet, basin, shower, mirror, floor — in that order, with separate colour-coded cloths.	Red cloth for the toilet only.
8	Restock amenities, towels and supplies to the standard list.
9	Vacuum from the far corner back to the door.
10	Check the room with the room checklist. Set the AC, close curtains to standard, switch off lights.	Update the room status in the system.

Handwashing for food handlers — SOP example

Area

Kitchen / food service

Done by

All food handlers

Purpose. Remove dirt and germs from the hands to prevent foodborne illness.

Safety. Wash at the handwashing sink only — never in a food or dish sink. Under the US FDA Food Code, cleaning takes at least 20 seconds, with water at least 100°F (38°C).

Step	Action	Key point / warning
1	Wet hands and lower arms with warm running water.
2	Apply soap.
3	Scrub hands, between fingers, under nails and lower arms for at least 10 to 15 seconds.	Whole wash takes at least 20 seconds.
4	Rinse under running water.
5	Dry with a single-use paper towel or hand dryer.	Never dry on an apron or cloth.
6	Turn off the tap with the paper towel, and use it to open the door if needed.

Warehouse goods receiving — SOP example

Area

Warehouse

Done by

Receiving operator

Purpose. Check, record and stage incoming goods correctly so that stock records are right and damaged goods are not accepted.

Safety. Safety shoes and hi-vis vest. Chock the trailer wheels or use the dock lock before anyone enters the trailer. Stay clear of forklifts.

Step	Action	Key point / warning
1	Check the driver's paperwork against the purchase order.	If there is no PO, do not unload. Call the supervisor.
2	Secure the trailer: dock lock or wheel chocks on, dock plate in place.	Never enter a trailer that is not secured.
3	Inspect the load before unloading: seal number, damage, leaks, temperature for chilled goods.	Take photos of any damage.
4	Unload and count each line against the delivery note.
5	Record differences and damage on the delivery note before the driver signs.
6	Receive the goods in the system and print labels.
7	Move the goods to the put-away area.	Keep aisles and fire exits clear.

Forklift pre-use inspection — SOP example

Area

Warehouse / manufacturing

Done by

Trained forklift operator

Purpose. Find faults before the shift so that an unsafe forklift is not used.

Safety. Only trained and authorised operators. Under OSHA 29 CFR 1910.178, trucks are examined before being placed in service, at least daily (after each shift when used around the clock). A truck with a fault that affects safety is taken out of service.

Step	Action	Key point / warning
1	Walk around the truck: tyres, forks, chains, mast, overhead guard, leaks under the truck.	Do not use a truck with cracked forks or damaged chains.
2	Check fluid levels, or the battery charge and cables on electric trucks.	Wear eye protection when you check batteries.
3	Check the data plate is readable and matches the attachment.
4	Sit in the seat, fasten the seat belt, start the truck.
5	Test the horn, lights, warning beacon and reversing alarm.
6	Test the service brake, parking brake, steering, and lift, lower and tilt controls.
7	Record the result on the pre-use checklist and sign it.	If anything fails: tag the truck "Do not use", take the key, tell the supervisor.

Small chemical spill response — SOP example

Area

All areas

Done by

Trained staff

Purpose. Clean up a small, known chemical spill safely, and know when to stop and call for help.

Safety. A small spill is one you can clean safely with the spill kit and the PPE on the SDS. If you do not know the chemical, if it is large, if there are fumes or someone is hurt — leave, warn others and call for help.

Step	Action	Key point / warning
1	Stop. Warn people nearby and keep them away.
2	Identify the chemical from the label. Check section 6 and section 8 of the SDS.	Unknown chemical? Leave and call for help.
3	Put on the PPE named on the SDS.
4	Stop the source if it is safe: stand the container up, close the valve.
5	Contain the spill with socks or absorbent from the spill kit, from the outside in.	Keep it out of drains.
6	Collect the absorbent into the labelled waste bag or bin.
7	Clean the area, remove PPE, wash your hands.
8	Report the spill and restock the spill kit.

Questions

Can I copy these SOP examples?

Yes. Use them as a starting point, then change them to match your own equipment, products, site rules and local law. Have the result checked and approved before you use it.

What makes a good SOP example?

One task, a clear purpose, the safety rules up front and again at the step, numbered steps that each start with a verb, and a check at the end.

Where can I get these SOPs as videos?

We turn SOPs like these into short branded videos with a quiz and sign-off record, in your crew's languages. Start with a free sample.