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Free drill rig inspection checklist

Free drill rig inspection checklist (PDF-ready). Periodic checks of mast, hoist, rotary head, hydraulics, guarding and emergency stops on drilling rigs.

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The MapTrack drill rig inspection checklist contains 25 checks across 5 sections.

Jarrod Milford

Jarrod Milford

Co-Founder & Commercial Director

Published 5 July 2026

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Also see:Maintenance and work orders →Best CMMS software →MapTrack vs MaintainX →

Key takeaways

  • The MapTrack drill rig inspection checklist contains 25 checks across 5 sections. Sections covered: MAST & STRUCTURE, HOIST & WIRE ROPES, ROTARY & FEED SYSTEM, HYDRAULICS & SERVICES, GUARDING & SAFETY.
  • Rig ID or fleet number, make, model, type and current engine or operating hours
  • Mast: structure, welds, pins, raise and lower cylinders and locking devices
  • Hoist and wire ropes: rope condition, terminations, sheaves and drum

What is a drill rig inspection checklist?

A drill rig inspection checklist is a periodic inspection sheet that guides a competent person through every safety critical and wear prone system on a drilling rig, whether it is a track mounted blast hole rig, a diamond core rig, a water bore rig or an auger rig. It covers the mast and its raise and lower mechanism, the hoist and wire ropes, the rotary head or top drive, the feed and pull down system, the hydraulics and hoses, the guarding around rotating parts, the emergency stops and the operator controls. It is a scheduled inspection completed above the daily pre-start, meant to catch wear, cracking, hydraulic leaks and guarding faults before they become a failure or an injury.

Drilling rigs carry a high injury potential because they combine rotating strings, high pressure hydraulics, suspended masts and lifting operations, often in remote locations where help is far away. A consistent inspection checklist turns rig safety into a measurable routine, gives the driller and the maintenance team a shared record of condition, and demonstrates the plant maintenance and guarding duties set out in the model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations (mirrored in each state and territory except Victoria, which uses the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic)). Recorded against each rig, the completed inspections build the history that planned maintenance, component change out and repair versus replace decisions rely on, in line with the asset management discipline of ISO 55001:2024.

Learn more about maintenance and work orders in MapTrack.

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Benefits of using this drill rig inspection checklist

  • Injury prevention: guarding, emergency stops and rotating parts are checked before a fault can catch or injure the crew.
  • Less downtime: catching wire rope wear, hydraulic leaks and cracked structure early stops a rig failing in a remote hole.
  • Complete rig history: every signed inspection adds to the record that component change out and warranty claims depend on.
  • Shared condition picture: the driller and the fitter work from one dated record instead of relying on memory and word of mouth.
  • Accountability: a named inspector and date against each inspection means every interval has a clear owner and paper trail.
  • Audit evidence: a consistent, dated inspection trail is objective proof of a controlled plant inspection process for WHS reviews.

What to include in a drill rig inspection checklist

  • Rig ID or fleet number, make, model, type and current engine or operating hours
  • Mast: structure, welds, pins, raise and lower cylinders and locking devices
  • Hoist and wire ropes: rope condition, terminations, sheaves and drum
  • Rotary head or top drive: bearings, seals, chuck or breakout, drive condition
  • Feed system: chains, cables, cylinders, cradle and pull down operation
  • Hydraulics: pumps, hoses, fittings, oil level, condition and leaks
  • Guarding: rotating parts guards, exclusion zones and interlocks
  • Emergency stops, remote stops and controls tested and functional
  • Air, dust suppression, water and compressor systems (as fitted)
  • Defects found, parts fitted, competency of operator and next inspection due

How to use this drill rig inspection checklist

  1. Isolate the rig and make it safe

    Park on stable level ground, lower the mast, set outriggers or tracks, shut down and isolate energy sources, and follow lockout and tagout so the rig cannot start or move while the inspector is working on it.

  2. Inspect the mast and lifting components

    Check the mast structure, welds and pins for cracks and wear, the raise and lower cylinders and locking devices, and inspect the wire ropes and terminations for broken wires, corrosion and correct fit against the discard criteria.

  3. Check the drive, feed and hydraulic systems

    Inspect the rotary head or top drive, the feed chains or cables, and the hydraulic pumps, hoses and fittings for wear and leaks. Run the systems where safe and listen and watch for abnormal noise, movement or pressure loss.

  4. Test guarding and emergency stops

    Confirm all guards over rotating parts are fitted and secure, exclusion zones are marked, and every emergency stop and remote stop actually shuts the machine down when pressed. Any failed safety device takes the rig out of service until fixed.

  5. Record defects and sign off

    Note every fault with enough detail for the next person, raise work orders for items not fixed on the spot, confirm the operator holds the right competency, then sign the inspection off and set the date the next inspection falls due.

How often should you complete this form?

Run this inspection on a periodic schedule, commonly weekly or monthly for a working rig plus after any major component change, incident or transport between sites. Wire ropes, guarding and emergency stops are checked more frequently because they are safety critical, and the manufacturer schedule sets the interval for deeper mechanical inspections.

This periodic inspection sits above the operator's daily pre-start, which confirms the rig is safe to run that shift. Track completed inspections against each rig so wear trends are visible, overdue inspections are chased, and the maintenance team can plan component change out before a failure rather than after one.

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Frequently asked questions

Practical answers about the form, record keeping and using MapTrack.

The model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Regulations (regulation 213 on maintenance of plant, plus the guarding duties, as enacted in each state and territory except Victoria, which has the OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic)) require that plant is maintained and inspected so it stays safe to use, that guarding is in place around dangerous parts, and that only competent people operate and inspect it. For a drill rig that means scheduled inspection of the mast, ropes, rotary head, guarding and emergency stops, keeping the records, and removing the rig from service when a defect makes it unsafe. A dated, signed inspection checklist is strong evidence those duties are being met.

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The daily pre-start is a quick operator check that the rig is safe to run that shift, covering fluids, guards, controls and obvious damage. The periodic inspection is a deeper, scheduled check by a competent person of the mast structure, wire ropes, feed and drive systems and safety devices, looking for wear and cracking that build up over time. You need both: the pre-start catches day to day faults, the periodic inspection catches developing failures.

Link to this answer

Run a periodic inspection weekly or monthly for a rig in regular use, and always after a major component change, an incident or transport between sites. Safety critical items such as wire ropes, guarding and emergency stops warrant more frequent checks, while the deeper mechanical inspection interval follows the manufacturer schedule. Setting the next inspection due date on completion stops intervals slipping on a busy drilling program.

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The rig should be taken out of service immediately and tagged out until the fault is repaired and re inspected. Wire ropes have documented discard criteria for broken wires, corrosion and reduction in diameter, and any rope that meets a discard criterion must be replaced, not run to failure. A failed emergency stop is a critical safety fault because it removes the last line of defence, so it is never acceptable to keep drilling with it.

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Yes, it is completely free. It downloads as a ready-to-print PDF. You do not need a MapTrack account. If you want to move beyond paper, MapTrack schedules inspections against each rig, tracks defects, parts and downtime, and keeps the full inspection and maintenance history in one place. Start a free trial or book a demo to see how.

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Applicable regulatory standards

This form is a starting point. Check the current requirements that apply to your equipment, work and location. The form alone does not establish compliance.

  • Model Work Health and Safety (WHS) Act and Regulations, as enacted in each state and territory (in Victoria, the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004 (Vic) and OHS Regulations 2017 (Vic))
  • Model WHS Regulations, regulation 213 (maintenance of plant) and the plant guarding duties (Chapter 5, Plant and structures)
  • AS/NZS 4024 Safety of machinery series - guarding, interlocks and emergency stops (e.g. AS/NZS 4024.1601:2014, guards and guarding)
  • ISO 55001:2024 Asset management - Asset management systems - Requirements (controlled maintenance records and asset history)
  • Manufacturer (OEM) inspection and maintenance schedule for the specific rig

MapTrack publishes this template. The linked authorities publish their own guidance; they haven't endorsed this form.

The numbers behind this drill rig inspection checklist

Every figure below is sourced and dated, so you can quote it in a toolbox talk, a budget case or a board paper without having to chase the original report.

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The MapTrack drill rig inspection checklist contains 25 checks across 5 sections.

Short attribution
MapTrack Drill Rig Inspection Checklist, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-inspection-checklist
Reference list
MapTrack. (2026). Drill Rig Inspection Checklist [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-inspection-checklist

Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-inspection-checklist.

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  <p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#071D49;margin:0;">Free template</p>
  <p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Drill Rig Inspection Checklist</p>
  <ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Rig ID or fleet number, make, model, type and current engine or operating hours</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Mast: structure, welds, pins, raise and lower cylinders and locking devices</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Hoist and wire ropes: rope condition, terminations, sheaves and drum</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Rotary head or top drive: bearings, seals, chuck or breakout, drive condition</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Feed system: chains, cables, cylinders, cradle and pull down operation</li>
    <li style="margin:4px 0;">Hydraulics: pumps, hoses, fittings, oil level, condition and leaks</li>
  </ul>
  <p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-inspection-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Drill Rig Inspection Checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>

Free to reuse, including commercially. This template is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Copy it, adapt it, put it on your own site or in your own docs. All we ask is that you credit MapTrack with a link back to this page. The snippet above already includes that credit, so if you use it as-is you’re covered.

About the author

Jarrod Milford

Jarrod Milford

Co-Founder & Commercial Director

Jarrod has spent over a decade in technology consulting and asset management, including roles at Accenture (mining and heavy industry) and CGI as an Asset Management Consultant. He co-founded MapTrack and built and scaled its original platform, then rebuilt it with Lachlan and Alex from thousands of customer conversations and 300+ user research sessions with field teams. His consulting background gives him deep insight into the operational and compliance challenges facing asset-intensive Australian businesses.

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