Checklists keep the routine work of every shift consistent at every Location. Build one for each moment in the day, schedule it, and use reporting to see what got done and what needs attention. Checklists in Opus help frontline teams stay on track, reduce errors, and maintain high standards during every shift. Whether you're managing food safety or prepping for a health inspection, Checklists ensure that nothing slips through the cracks.
✅ Before you start: Admins, and Managers whose Role has the Create Content permission, build Checklists in the dashboard under Operations > Checklists.
Your team completes them in the Opus Training app.
Table of Contents:
Plan Your Checklists
Give each Checklist one job, tied to a specific moment in the shift, like opening, a temperature check, or inspection prep. Your team finishes focused lists faster, and reporting shows exactly which routine was missed.
Name the moment: when the Checklist happens and who does it.
List what has to be true: write each step as something a team member can check or measure.
Decide what needs follow-up: mark the answers a Manager should hear about right away.
Checklists help keep work running smoothly. Use them to:
Reduce training time for new team members
Deliver consistent guest experiences
Ensure food safety compliance
Prevent mistakes and missed tasks
Build Your Checklist
Go to Operations > Checklists and click New Checklist. Then shape it with these building blocks:
Sections: group steps by area, Role, or time of day, like "Walk-In Cooler" or "Front of House".
Step types: match each step to the answer you need.
Checkbox or Yes/No for tasks to confirm, Temperature or Number input for readings and counts, Multiple choice for set options, and Text entry for notes like a waste reason.
Photos, videos, and notes: ask for proof or detail on any step.
Linked content: link a Course or Resource to a step or Section, so your team can check how to do it on the spot.
Conditional steps: show follow-up steps only after a specific answer.
Triggers: act on an answer automatically with Flag as issue, Suggest corrective action, or Send automated message.
🎯 Example: A Temperature step reads "Walk-in cooler temperature". A Trigger flags any reading outside 33–41°F and messages the shift Manager.
➡️ Learn more:
How to Build and Publish a Checklist: Sections, step types, conditional steps, and building with AI.
How to Set Up Triggers in Checklists: conditions, actions, and when each one fires.
Checklist Examples
Use these as a starting point, and adjust them to your business. Use logs to track time-sensitive data for compliance, reporting, and operations.
Checklist | Sections | Example Steps | Trigger |
Temperature Log | Walk-In Cooler, Freezer, Prep Line | Record each unit's temperature, note any corrective action | Flag any reading outside the safe range |
Waste Log | Kitchen, Bakery | Item wasted, quantity, reason | Message a Manager when the quantity is above your limit |
Opening | Front of House, Back of House | Power on fryers and grill, prep toppings and sauces, stock the beverage station, count the opening cash drawer | Flag a cash drawer that doesn't match |
Midday | Dining Room, Restrooms | Restock paper goods, sanitize guest areas, refill handwashing supplies | Suggest corrective action when supplies are out |
Closing | Kitchen, Front Counter, Lock-Up | Shut down equipment, empty trash, sanitize counters, lock up and set the alarm | Message a Manager if the alarm isn't set |
Inspection Readiness | Food Storage, Sanitation, Chemical Safety | Record cold-holding temperatures, confirm food is labeled and dated, check handwashing stations, confirm chemicals are stored properly | Flag any "No" answer and message a Manager |
⚡ Your team can collaborate on filling out Checklists in real time. One person can handle the first section while another tackles the second, all in the same list.
💡 Build from your local health code: Base inspection steps on the requirements your inspectors check, and group them in Sections the way an inspection walks through the store. If key compliance tasks, like restocking handwashing stations or logging cold-hold temps, are missed or flagged, you can set up Triggers to notify a supervisor immediately.
Deliver It to Your Team
Checklists are completed by Locations, so you don't assign them. Publish the Checklist, then set it up on its Overview tab:
Click Make available next to Available in library to choose who can find and complete it in the Opus Training app.
Click Create Schedule next to Schedules, choose the Locations, and set the days and time window under Recurring times.
💡 Repeat it during the day: Click Add a recurring time to run the same Checklist several times a day, like a temperature log every four hours. You can set checklists to recur multiple times a day for continuous compliance.
➡️ Learn more:
How to Set Up Schedules for Checklists: set recurring times for each Location.
How to Complete a Checklist: what your team sees in the Opus Training app.
Track Results
Open the Checklist's Reporting tab to see what got done and where to follow up:
Submissions: every submission, with its Location and who submitted it.
Schedule completion: which Locations completed each scheduled window.
Steps: a summary of each step. Click a step to see its responses.
Well-designed Checklists don't just keep things running, they raise the standard across your entire operation. Features like Sections help teams navigate long lists with ease, while Triggers provide real-time accountability and visibility into what's not working.
💡 Keep Checklists current: Use the Steps view to spot steps that are always skipped or flagged, and update the Checklist when your menu, equipment, or season changes.
➡️ Learn more:
Checklist Reporting Overview: submissions, schedule completion, and step responses in the dashboard, the app, and the Daily Summary Email.
FAQ
Do I need to use Sections and Triggers?
No, both are optional. Add Sections when a Checklist is long enough to need grouping, and Triggers when an answer needs follow-up.
Can I change a Checklist after it's published?
Yes. On the Build tab, click Edit, make your changes, and click Publish. Your team keeps seeing the last published version until you publish.
Why can't my team see the Checklist in the app?
Make sure it's published and that Available in library on the Overview tab includes their Role and Location.
Can Managers build Checklists?
Yes, if their Role has the Create Content permission.