SOP
Also known as: Standard Operating Procedure
A Standard Operating Procedure is a step-by-step controlled procedure for a recurring task. SOPs are the repository of "how we do this" knowledge; a SWMS, JSA or toolbox talk often references the relevant SOP rather than restating its content.
Legal context
An SOP captures the standard way a recurring task is performed: equipment used, sequence of steps, PPE, checks at start / during / end, hand-off, escalation. SOPs are versioned, owned by a named role (the "process owner"), reviewed on a fixed cycle, and superseded — they don't just get edited and re-saved. ISO 45001 Clause 7.5 (documented information) and Clause 8.1 (operational planning and control) both anticipate SOPs as the operational layer of a WHSMS. A good SOP names its parent policy, its review interval, its approver and its supersession history.
Where this shows up in RAE IQ
Related terms
SWMS
A Safe Work Method Statement is a written document required by WHS Regulation 299 for any high-risk construction work. It identifies the work, the hazards, the controls (in hierarchy-of-control order), the residual risks, and the person responsible. The principal contractor must keep it for the life of the project.
Toolbox talk
A toolbox talk is a short on-site safety briefing — typically 5–15 minutes before a shift — covering a specific hazard, control or change. It is the most regular consultation touchpoint between supervisors and workers and is logged with attendees and topic so it forms an audit trail of consultation.
ISO 45001
ISO 45001:2018 is the international standard for occupational health and safety management systems (OHSMS). It uses the Annex SL high-level structure shared with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001, organised around Plan-Do-Check-Act and 10 clauses from context (4) through improvement (10).
Platform pillars
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47 WHS and HSWA terms with legal context, FAQs and regulator references.