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Procedure Writer's Checklist

#ChecklistReference
1Are terms familiar to the procedure user located in an appendix?Section 3.1.1, Guideline 1
2Are definitions of industry-specific terms that are not familiar to the procedure user included within the procedure between sections?Section 3.1.1, Guideline 2
3Are technical requirements and exceptions/limits of procedure applicability included in a limitation section?Section 3.1.1, Guideline 3
4Are limitations written in the passive voice, with no action required?Section 3.1.1, Guideline 4
5Are hazards within each precaution written in the passive voice, with exposure reduction methods for each hazard written in the active voice?Section 3.1.1, Guideline 5
6Are specific limits included on controlled parameters as well as appropriate corrective actions to return parameters to the normal control band?Section 3.1.1, Guideline 6
7Are materials necessary for each task and their locations listed as a preface at the beginning of the procedure as well as within the procedure steps?Section 3.1.1, Guideline 7
8Are procedures written at the lowest practicable reading level without compromising the intent of the procedure?Section 3.1.2, Guideline 1
9Are procedure steps with a required sequence of performance numbered consistently and consecutively, with steps without a required performance bulleted?Section 3.1.2, Guideline 2
10Is a font size of at least 12 pt used? When modified for those with vision impairments, is a font size of at least 18 pt used?Section 3.1.2, Guideline 3
11Are serif fonts used for paper presentation and sans serif fonts used for electronic presentation?Section 3.1.2, Guideline 4
12Is positive phrasing rather than negative phrasing used when possible for action steps?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 1
13If there is a conditional element in a step, is the step started with the conditional term?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 2
14If a step does not contain a conditional statement, is the step started with an action verb?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 3
15Are procedural steps written in an active voice?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 4
16Are common and simple words and sentence structures used when possible?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 5
17Are steps requiring complex decision making or assessment of multiple conditional actions presented in a flowchart or decision table format?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 6
18Are procedural steps not requiring many conditional assessments presented as a text list rather than a flowchart?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 7
19Does each step include only one action when possible?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 8
20Are initial lines used in infrequently performed procedures for which workers may be unfamiliar with the procedural steps?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 9
21Are checkboxes used for frequently performed task procedures to ensure procedure use?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 10
22Do the procedures for novices include more detailed information?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 11
23Do the procedures for experienced workers include less detailed information?Section 3.1.3, Guideline 12
24Are relevant operating limits, consequences of deviation, and limit exceedance actions included in tabular format in the procedure appendix?Section 3.1.4, Guideline 1
25Are operational limits included on checklists and log books?Section 3.1.4, Guideline 2
26Are prerequisites listed in the written procedure prior to the procedure steps, with checkboxes added to them?Section 3.1.4, Guideline 3
27Do the initial start-up procedures include target levels, milestones, consequences, and remedial methods?Section 3.2.4, Guideline 1
28Are relevant visuals used to complement written information when practicable for infrequently performed procedures?Section 3.2.4, Guideline 2
29Do the normal operations procedures include logs for operators to record elements of the monitoring process?Section 3.2.1, Guideline 1
30Is more detailed information provided within the steps for temporary operations?Section 3.2.2, Guideline 1
31Are normal shutdown procedural steps written only using information that is necessary to perform the shutdown safely?Section 3.2.6, Guideline 1
32Are emergency procedures written using steps that are as concise as possible?Section 3.2.3, Guideline 1
33Do emergency procedures contain information or decision-making aids for use when unexpected problems occur?Section 3.2.3, Guideline 2
34Are hazards that potentially exist during the emergency shutdown process identified and necessary precautions provided/prescribed in the procedure?Section 3.2.7, Guideline 1
35Do start-up after shutdown procedures describe process excursions that may occur and the appropriate corrective actions?Section 3.2.5, Guideline 1
36Do the limits in the procedure include equipment identification, limit description, and numerical limit values with units?Section 3.3.1, Guideline 1
37Are the consequences of divergence from limits included in the procedure with the limits themselves?Section 3.3.2, Guideline 1
38Are preventative and corrective actions to be taken in response to limit divergence included in the procedure with the limits themselves?Section 3.3.3, Guideline 1
39Do hazard precautions only include information required by workers to perform the task safely?Section 3.4.2, Guideline 1
40Are precautions necessary to control or prevent EH&S hazards included?Section 3.4.2, Guideline 2
41Is “danger” used to indicate severe hazards, with either “warning” or “caution” used to indicate mild or moderate hazards?Section 3.4.2, Guideline 3
42Are hazards, consequences, and prevention strategies applicable throughout the procedure presented immediately before all procedure steps?Section 3.4.3, Guideline 1
43Is precautionary information relevant to particular steps placed immediately before those steps?Section 3.4.3, Guideline 1
44Is each hazard statement numbered consistently and consecutively as if it were a step?Section 3.4.3, Guideline 2
45Are borders around hazard steps avoided?Section 3.4.3, Guideline 3
46Are hazard icons with hazard statements avoided?Section 3.4.3, Guideline 4
47When hazard pictograms are used, is the hazard statement shaded using a color that contrasts the font color?Section 3.4.3, Guideline 5
48Are workers provided a page at the end of the procedure to note any procedure-related problems or suggestions?Section 6.1, Guideline 1
49Are procedures updated when there are changes to the process that make any steps invalid or unclear?Section 6.2, Guideline 1