Pre-Start Inspection Checklist (Mobile Plant and Construction Equipment)
A pre-use check for TLBs, telehandlers, skid steers, rollers, graders, excavators and other mobile plant on construction sites, plant-hire yards and contract work. The operator does the walk-around with the machine parked and switched off, then tests the controls before work starts. A machine that fails is tagged "Do not operate" and reported.
Before first use on every shift, and after the machine changes hands · 33 checks · free printable PDF
What the checklist covers
Before you start
- Operator is trained and authorised for this machine
- Defects from the last pre-start repaired and signed off, or the machine is still tagged out
- Operator's manual or the manufacturer's daily checks available
- Machine parked on firm, level ground, attachment lowered, park brake on, engine off
Walk-around
- Body, frame and boom free of cracks, bends and new damage
- Steps, handrails and grab handles secure and clean
- Guards and covers in place
- Glass, mirrors and cameras clean and undamaged
Fluids and leaks
- Engine oil level
- Hydraulic oil level
- Coolant level
- Fuel level
- No fluid leaks under the machine or on the ground where it stood
Tyres or tracks
- Wheeled: tyres free of cuts, bulges and exposed cords; pressures correct; wheel nuts present and secure
- Tracked: track tension, pads, rollers and idlers in good condition
Cab, seatbelt and protective structures
- Seatbelt present, latches and is undamaged
- ROPS and FOPS (roll-over and falling-object protection) present, undamaged and not modified, where fitted
- Seat secure and adjusts
- Cab clean, with no loose objects near the pedals
- Fire extinguisher present, sealed and within its service date
Start-up and function checks
- Gauges normal and no warning lights after start-up
- Horn
- Reverse alarm
- Lights, indicators and flashing beacon
- Mirrors and cameras give a clear view
- Service brake and park brake hold
- Steering responds normally, with no excessive play
Attachments and hydraulics
- Bucket, forks or attachment secure; locking pins and quick-hitch locked
- Hydraulic hoses and fittings free of leaks, chafing and damage
- All hydraulic functions smooth, with no drift
Defects and outcome
- Machine safe to operate
- Any defect reported to the supervisor before the machine is used
- A machine with a safety-critical defect is tagged "Do not operate" and not used until repaired and signed off
How to use this checklist
- 1Use one sheet per machine per shift, and a new sheet when the machine changes hands.
- 2Park on level ground, lower attachments, apply the park brake and switch off before the walk-around.
- 3Check fluids and leaks, tyres or tracks, the cab, the seatbelt and the protective structures, then start up and test the controls.
- 4Mark every item OK, Defect or N/A and sign the outcome section.
- 5If the machine fails, tag it "Do not operate", report it, and record who accepted the report.
A general guide. Follow your site's own standards and the manufacturer's instructions. In South Africa the Occupational Health and Safety Act 85 of 1993 and its regulations apply, including the Driven Machinery Regulations and, on construction work, the Construction Regulations; on a mine, the Mine Health and Safety Act 29 of 1996 and the mine's own code of practice apply.
Convert this checklist into a digital form
Run it on an Android phone with no signal, attach photos as evidence, and every failed item raises an issue with an owner and a due date.
Paper finds the defect. Then what?
On paper, a ticked "Defect" box often stays a ticked box. In Inspecable the same checklist keeps going after it is signed:
- Run the checklist on an Android phone with no signal; it syncs when the crew is back in range.
- A failed item raises an issue with an owner and a due date.
- A corrective action cannot close without evidence and a signature.
- Every completed inspection produces a signed PDF with its photos.
Questions
Is a pre-start check required on construction sites?
The Construction Regulations, 2014 under the Occupational Health and Safety Act require construction vehicles and mobile plant to be inspected by a competent person before use. A daily pre-start like this is how most contractors meet it. Check the current regulation.
Who should complete the pre-start?
The operator who will use the machine on that shift, trained and authorised for it. On hired plant, the hire company's handover check does not replace the operator's own daily pre-start.
What machines is this checklist for?
TLBs, telehandlers, skid steers, rollers, graders, excavators and similar mobile plant. Add the manufacturer's checks for each machine and any attachments, such as quick hitches, breakers or buckets.
What do we do with the completed checklists?
The supervisor reviews them each shift and every defect becomes an action with an owner. Keep them per machine for the life of the contract, so you can show the plant was checked before use if there is an incident.
More free checklists
- Vehicle Inspection Checklist: Pre-Use Walk-Around for LDVs and Trucks
- Forklift Pre-Use Inspection Checklist (Driven Machinery Regulations, 2015)
- Heavy Equipment Pre-Start Checklist (Excavator, Dump Truck, Loader)
- SHE Representative Inspection Checklist (Monthly Workplace Safety Inspection)
- Ladder Inspection Checklist
- OHS Act Legal Compliance Audit Checklist (South Africa)
- Substation Inspection Checklist (Routine Visual Inspection)
- TMM Pre-Use Checklist (Trackless Mobile Machinery): Go, Go-But, No-Go
- Railway Track Inspection Checklist (Plain Line, Points and Crossings)