There are many types of documented work procedures.

Some are designed to provide safety guidelines for using certain types of equipment or products that are hazardous.

Others are used to specify material quantities, finished sizes and cutting lists.

These documents are normally based on a template format, setting out the information in a standardised layout with fixed subheadings.

The advantage of a template is that you always know where to look to find the information you're after, even though the details differ from one example to another.

Below is a summary of the main types of documented work procedures you're likely to use in a kitchen and bathroom cabinetmaking business.

Cutting list

Cutting lists can be laid out in lots of different ways, depending on the material you're cutting and the task you're doing.

For example, if you were cutting whiteboard components, you may list the finished sizes and number of pieces to be cut from each sheet of stock material.

Cutting lists are very handy when you have to cut a lot of pieces from stock sizes and are trying to minimise the waste that will be produced.

They are also valuable when you're doing process work and need to tick off each item as you go to keep track of your progress. The link below shows an excerpt from a typical cutting list. This list shows panel sizes and quantities required for a set of white melamine cabinets.

SOP

The purpose of a safe operating procedure (SOP) is to describe how to use a machine or carry out the task safely and in accordance with the company's policies and manufacturer's guidelines.

Your company will probably have an SOP for each static machine in the workshop, as well as for hazardous tasks such as using the gantry crane or operating a forklift. There may also be SOPs for using hand-held power tools, such as the example linked below.

SWMS

A safe work method statement (SWMS) is a formal document that lists all the tasks involved in completing a job and describes how the hazards will be controlled.

On building sites they are mandatory for 'high risk construction work'.

However, on some sites all contractors are asked to complete an SWMS before they start work - including kitchen and bathroom installers. In these cases, everyone involved in the work is required to sign the SWMS to verify that they have been consulted and have agreed to abide by it.

There may also be SWMSs for jobs you do in the workshop, such as manufacturing cabinets or loading and unloading materials. Below is a link to an excerpt from a typical example, showing the way the safety procedures are laid out.

MSDS

A material safety data sheet (MSDS) - also called a safety data sheet (SDS) - is a summary of the safety procedures you should follow when using or handling a hazardous product, and the main health issues relating to it.

There are some variations in layout between different manufacturers' MSDS, but they all have the same sorts of subheadings.

The example below shows the first page of a seven page MSDS for Trade Essential's sprayable contact adhesive.