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Free audit checklist template (PDF-ready). Run an ISO 9001, 45001 or 14001 internal management system audit and capture evidence.

Jarrod Milford

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 9 June 2026
Also see:Compliance and inspections →Best inspection software →MapTrack vs SafetyCulture →

Key takeaways

  • One generic checklist drives ISO 9001, ISO 45001 and ISO 14001 internal audits.
  • Built around ISO 19011:2018 auditing guidance and the clause 9.2 internal audit requirement.
  • Every line is a conform or non-conform check with space for objective evidence.
  • Auditors must stay objective and impartial and not audit their own work.
  • Findings flow to corrective actions and close only once verified effective.

Updated 9 June 2026

How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.

  • PDF format, ready to print or fill on screen
  • Use as-is or customise to suit your operation
  • Go digital in MapTrack for photos, alerts and audit trails

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FreePDFUpdated June 2026

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These templates are free general guides provided as-is. They do not constitute legal, safety or compliance advice. You are responsible for ensuring any form meets your specific workplace obligations, industry standards and applicable regulations.

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What is a audit checklist template?

An internal audit checklist is a structured working document an auditor uses to verify that a management system conforms to its planned arrangements, to the requirements of the relevant standard and to the way the organisation has said it will operate. It guides the auditor through scope and criteria, document and record review, leadership and policy, risk and objectives, process conformance, competence, monitoring and measurement, and the handling of non-conformities, so evidence is gathered consistently and nothing material is missed.

This template is deliberately generic so the same structure works for an ISO 9001 quality audit, an ISO 45001 safety audit or an ISO 14001 environmental audit. It follows the auditing approach set out in ISO 19011:2018 and the internal audit requirement common to those standards at clause 9.2. Each line is a conform or non-conform check with space to record objective evidence, the people interviewed, the documents sampled and any finding raised for follow-up.

Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.

Benefits of using this audit checklist template

  • Consistent coverage: every auditor works through the same clauses so results stay comparable across sites and years.
  • Defensible evidence: dedicated space for objective evidence, samples and interviewees supports the evidence-based approach.
  • Multi-standard ready: one structure serves ISO 9001 quality, ISO 45001 safety and ISO 14001 environmental audits.
  • Faster preparation: a ready scope, criteria and question set removes hours of blank-page planning before each audit.
  • Clear findings trail: conform and non-conform fields link directly to corrective actions and verified close-out.
  • Audit-ready records: completed checklists become the documented information your certification body expects to see.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you move your checklists from paper to MapTrack, you get:

  • Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
  • Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
  • Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
  • Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
  • Ability to share forms digitally.
  • Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
  • Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
  • Electronic signatures.
  • Edit forms later without reprinting.
  • Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
  • Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
  • Set recurring audit schedules with automatic reminders and escalation.
  • Produce regulator-ready PDF compliance packs in one click.
  • Track corrective actions from finding to close-out with full audit trail.

Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles checklists.

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What to include in a audit checklist template

This audit checklist template covers 9 key areas:

  • Audit scope, objectives and the criteria being audited (standard, policy and procedures).
  • Auditor and auditee details, dates, areas, shifts and processes in scope.
  • Document and record review covering the manual, procedures and current versions.
  • Leadership and policy questions on commitment, the policy and assigned responsibilities.
  • Risk, opportunities and objectives, including how they are planned and measured.
  • Process conformance checks with space for objective evidence and samples taken.
  • Competence, training, awareness and authorisation records for the people doing the work.
  • Monitoring, measurement, analysis and previous audit and management review outputs.
  • Findings register with classification, corrective action owner, due date and verification.

How to use this audit checklist template

  1. Plan and define scope: Agree the objectives, scope and criteria with the auditee before you start, decide which processes, sites and shifts are in scope, review previous findings and risks, and confirm the standard and internal documents you will audit against.
  2. Open the audit: Hold a short opening meeting to confirm scope, criteria, timing and the sampling approach, explain how findings will be reported and classified, and make sure the right process owners and records will be available throughout the audit.
  3. Collect and verify evidence: Work through the checklist by interviewing people, observing the work and sampling documents and records, record the objective evidence you actually see, and verify information against the criteria rather than accepting unsupported statements as proof.
  4. Raise and classify findings: For each line decide conform or non-conform, write the evidence and the requirement not met, classify findings as major, minor or opportunity for improvement, and agree them with the auditee so there is no surprise at the closing meeting.
  5. Report and follow up: Present results at a closing meeting, issue the report to relevant management, agree corrective actions with owners and due dates, then verify root cause has been addressed and close each non-conformity only once evidence confirms it is effective.

In MapTrack, you can automate compliance tracking and audit trails. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

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How often should you complete this checklist?

Most management system standards require internal audits at planned intervals rather than on a fixed calendar date, so the right frequency depends on the criticality of each process, the results of previous audits and any changes affecting the organisation. A common pattern is a rolling annual programme where higher-risk or poorly performing areas are audited more often, and every part of the system is covered at least once before the next certification or surveillance visit.

In practice many organisations run their full internal audit programme over a twelve month cycle, breaking it into shorter audits by process or department so the workload is manageable. Trigger an extra audit when you change a process, move sites, introduce new equipment, see a spike in non-conformities or complaints, or prepare for an external audit. Record the planned schedule and any changes so you can show the programme is risk-based and complete.

Frequently asked questions

The template is built around the internal audit requirement common to ISO 9001:2015, ISO 45001:2018 and ISO 14001:2015, each found at clause 9.2, and the auditing guidance in ISO 19011:2018. Because those standards share a common high level structure, one checklist can drive a quality, safety or environmental audit. You add the standard-specific criteria for the system you are auditing, then work through scope, leadership, process conformance, records and findings the same way each time, which keeps results comparable across all three systems.

The standards require auditors to be objective and impartial and, as far as practical, not to audit their own work. They do not require an external person. Many organisations train internal staff and simply cross-allocate audits so a process owner is never auditing their own area. ISO 19011:2018 describes the competence and independence expected. Record who audited what and their relationship to the area, so you can show selection of auditors preserved objectivity, which is exactly what a certification body looks for when reviewing your audit programme.

A finding is the result of comparing evidence against the audit criteria. If the evidence shows a requirement is met, the finding is conformity. If a requirement is not met, it is a non-conformity, usually classified as major or minor depending on its effect and whether the system has broken down. An observation, or opportunity for improvement, flags something that conforms today but could fail or be strengthened. Only non-conformities require formal correction and corrective action, although acting on observations helps prevent future problems.

An internal audit is run by or on behalf of your organisation to check your own system before anyone else does, and the results feed management review and improvement. A certification audit is run by an accredited body to decide whether to grant or maintain your certificate. The checklist here is for the internal audit, but doing it well makes the external visit far smoother because you have already found and closed your own gaps. Use the same evidence-based approach so internal findings stand up to external scrutiny.

Yes. The audit checklist template is free, with no account or sign-up needed. Open it in your browser and use Print to PDF to save or share a clean copy, or print it for use on the floor. If you would rather not chase paper checklists, MapTrack lets you run audits and inspections from a phone or tablet, attach photo evidence to each finding, assign corrective actions with owners and due dates, and keep every record in one searchable place. Start free or book a demo to see how.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

  • ISO 19011:2018 (Guidelines for auditing management systems)
  • ISO 9001:2015 (Quality management systems, clause 9.2 internal audit)
  • ISO 45001:2018 (Occupational health and safety management systems, clause 9.2 internal audit)
  • ISO 14001:2015 (Environmental management systems, clause 9.2 internal audit)

Related resources

More compliance templates and guides:

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