Free drilling rig daily inspection checklist
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Free drilling rig daily pre-start inspection checklist (PDF-ready). Covers mast, drawworks, rotary table, fluid systems, safety devices and controls. Download free.
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See the first part of the drilling rig daily inspection checklist below. Download the full version above.
What is a drilling rig daily inspection checklist?
A drilling rig daily inspection checklist is a structured pre-start form used to verify the operational safety and mechanical condition of a drilling rig before each shift. It covers the mast and substructure, drawworks, rotary table or top drive, mud system, power unit, hydraulic and pneumatic systems, wire ropes and sheaves, travelling block, hook, swivel, emergency shutdown systems, fire suppression, guards and all operator controls. Each item is marked Pass, Fail or N/A with space for defect notes and corrective actions.
Drilling rigs are high-energy, high-risk plant operating across mineral exploration, geotechnical investigation, water bore drilling and oil and gas operations in Australia. Under the WHS Act 2011 and WHS Regulations 2011, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) must ensure that plant is inspected before use each shift by a competent person. AS 4801 and the relevant state mining regulations (for example NSW WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022) reinforce this obligation. A daily pre-start inspection using a standardised checklist helps operators catch hydraulic leaks, worn wire ropes, cracked mast pins, faulty emergency stops and other defects before they lead to catastrophic failure, dropped loads or uncontrolled energy release. It also creates the documented audit trail required by regulators and insurers.
Learn more about pre-start inspections in MapTrack.
Benefits of using this drilling rig daily inspection checklist
- Mast integrity: identify cracked pins, loose bolts, damaged lattice members and misalignment before the mast is loaded.
- Wire rope safety: detect broken wires, bird-caging, kinks and corrosion in drilling lines, deadline anchors and guide ropes before they fail under load.
- Hydraulic reliability: catch leaks, low fluid levels, damaged hoses and faulty pressure gauges in the hydraulic circuit before they cause uncontrolled movement.
- Emergency system confidence: verify emergency shutdown buttons, kill switches and fire suppression systems are functional before drilling begins.
- Regulatory compliance: documented daily inspections satisfy WHS Regulations 2011 plant inspection obligations and state mining regulation requirements.
- Defect tracking: every defect is logged with severity, corrective action and close-out date, giving supervisors a clear view of rig condition over time.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you digitise drilling rig checklists in 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).
- Auto-schedule pre-start forms so operators are prompted before every shift.
- Flag overdue pre-starts on the dashboard so nothing leaves the yard unchecked.
- Link each pre-start to the asset record for a complete inspection history.
Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles drilling rig checklists.
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What to include in a drilling rig daily inspection checklist
This drilling rig daily inspection checklist covers 10 key areas:
- Rig and operator details: rig number, make, model, serial number, operator name, competency reference, date, shift and drill site location.
- Mast and substructure: visual inspection of mast pins, lattice members, guy wires or hydraulic cylinders, mast locking pins, substructure legs, levelling jacks and ground conditions.
- Drawworks and rotary system: brake bands, brake linkage, chain guards, rotary table or top drive condition, kelly spinner (if fitted), clutch and transmission.
- Wire ropes and sheaves: drilling line, sandline, deadline anchor, travelling block sheaves, crown block sheaves, rope clips and thimbles. Check for broken wires, corrosion, kinks and diameter reduction.
- Mud and fluid systems: mud pump condition, suction and discharge hoses, mud tank levels, shale shaker screens, desander and desilter cones, flow line and fluid returns.
- Power unit: engine oil, coolant, fuel, air filter, exhaust, belts, battery, starter and alternator.
- Hydraulic and pneumatic systems: reservoir level, hoses, fittings, cylinders, accumulators, pressure gauges and air receiver (if fitted).
- Safety devices: emergency stop buttons (at driller console, mast base and remote), fire extinguishers, fire suppression system, guards on rotating parts, first aid kit and spill kit.
- Controls and instruments: driller console gauges (WOB, pump pressure, RPM, torque), throttle, brake controls, hoist controls and instrument lighting.
- Defect register and sign-off: item, description, severity, corrective action, responsible person, due date, operator signature and supervisor acknowledgement.
How to use this drilling rig daily inspection checklist
- Record rig identification and operator details at the top of the form.: Note the rig number, make, model, serial number, drill site location, date, shift and your name and competency reference. Confirm you hold the required high-risk work licence or competency for the rig type. Record weather conditions including wind speed, as most rigs have maximum wind speed limits for mast-up operations.
- Walk around the rig and inspect the mast, substructure, guy wires and ground conditions.: Start at ground level and work upward. Check substructure legs, levelling jacks and ground pads for movement or sinking. Inspect mast pins, lattice members, hydraulic mast cylinders, mast locking pins and guy wire tension. Look for cracked welds, bent members, hydraulic leaks and corrosion. Verify the mast is plumb using the spirit levels or inclinometer on the driller console.
- Inspect drawworks, wire ropes, sheaves, travelling block and hook.: Check brake bands and linkage for wear and adjustment. Inspect the drilling line from deadline anchor through crown sheaves to the drum, looking for broken wires, bird-caging, kinks and diameter reduction. Verify the sandline condition. Check sheave bearings for play and lubrication. Confirm the travelling block safety latch and hook latch are functional.
- Check the power unit, hydraulic system, mud system and all fluid levels.: Inspect engine oil, coolant, fuel and air filter. Check hydraulic reservoir level and inspect all hoses, fittings and cylinders for leaks. Verify mud pump condition, suction and discharge hose integrity, mud tank levels and shale shaker screen condition. Top up all fluids to the correct levels and record any consumption trends that may indicate a developing fault.
- Test all safety devices, emergency stops, fire suppression and controls.: Press each emergency stop button to confirm it shuts down the rig and the power unit. Test the fire suppression system activation indicator (do not discharge). Check fire extinguishers for charge and inspection tags. Test all driller console controls, gauges and instrument lighting. Verify guards are in place on all rotating components including the rotary table, chain drives and belt drives.
- Record all defects, determine the overall result and sign off the form.: Document every failed item with a description, severity rating and corrective action. Any safety-critical defect, such as a failed emergency stop, cracked mast pin or wire rope beyond discard criteria, means the rig must not operate until the defect is rectified. Attach a Do Not Use tag and notify the supervisor. Sign the form and submit it to the site supervisor for review and retention.
In MapTrack, you can run digital pre-starts attached to each asset. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.
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Back to download formHow often should you complete this checklist?
A drilling rig daily inspection must be completed before the first operation of each shift. If the rig operates across day and night shifts, each shift crew must complete their own pre-start check before commencing drilling. This is a requirement under the WHS Regulations 2011 for plant that poses a high risk.
In addition to the daily pre-start, a more detailed periodic inspection should be carried out weekly or monthly depending on the rig manufacturer recommendations and the intensity of use. Wire ropes should be measured and recorded against discard criteria at least monthly. After any significant event, such as a rig move, stuck pipe incident, mast raising or lowering, or adverse weather (high wind, lightning, heavy rain), a targeted inspection must be completed before drilling resumes. In MapTrack you can schedule daily, weekly and monthly inspection intervals per rig and track compliance across your entire drilling fleet.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- WHS Act 2011 (Duty to ensure health and safety of workers)
- WHS Regulations 2011 Part 5.1 (Management of risks of plant)
- AS 4801 Occupational health and safety management systems
- NSW WHS (Mines and Petroleum Sites) Regulation 2022
Need to run digital pre-starts attached to each asset?
Register every drilling rig in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.
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