During the first few weeks with a new employee around the job site, it's common to hear phrases like "I didn't know that's what you wanted." You can clear up some of this fog by using a written Standard Operating Procedure, or "SOP," to give everyone a set of guidelines for how they are to perform their job. By giving copies of the same written policy to everyone, you avoid having to explain the same thing — such as what "work safe" means to you — over and over. I've used an SOP for years with both my employees and subcontractors, so I have a good idea of what it ought to contain. Still, since this
