Free equipment inspection checklist

• The MapTrack equipment inspection checklist contains 23 checks across 5 sections. Sections covered: Guards & safety devices, Controls & instrumentation, Hydraulics, engine & fluids, Attachments, tyres & structure, Compliance & documentation.
• An equipment inspection checklist is the periodic, comprehensive plant inspection: deeper and less frequent than the daily equipment pre-start check.
• It covers guards and safety devices, controls, hydraulics, engine and fluids, attachments and compliance against AS 4024 machinery safety requirements.
• The WHS Regulations 2011 Part 5.1 require plant to be maintained and inspected by a competent person, following the manufacturer's or a competent person's recommendations.
• Use this hub for scheduled monthly, quarterly or statutory inspections and the matching pre-start for the daily before-use check.

Learn more about maintenance and work orders in MapTrack.

• Periodic depth: a scheduled comprehensive inspection finds wear, fatigue and corrosion that a fast daily pre-start is not designed to detect.
• One form for mixed fleets: a generic hub covers any item of plant without a specific inspection form, keeping standards consistent across the yard.
• Machinery safety: dedicated guard, emergency stop and isolation checks verify the AS 4024 safety functions that protect operators from moving parts.
• Maintenance evidence: each periodic inspection builds the documented service and compliance history auditors, insurers and regulators expect to see.
• Defect prioritisation: recording severity and an action against each fail lets workshops triage repairs and keep unsafe plant out of service.
• Lower downtime: catching hydraulic, fluid and structural issues at a scheduled interval prevents the unplanned breakdowns that stop a job.
• Compliance visibility: tracking registration, inspection due dates and operator competency against each asset surfaces gaps before they become breaches.

• Asset details: equipment type, asset or fleet ID, make and model, serial number, hour or meter reading, site and inspection date.
• Inspection type: scheduled interval (monthly, quarterly, annual) or statutory inspection, and the competent person performing it.
• Guards and safety devices: fixed and interlock guards, emergency stops, isolation points, ROPS or FOPS, seatbelt, warning decals.
• Controls and instrumentation: steering, brakes, levers, switches, gauges, warning lights, horn and reversing alarm.
• Hydraulic system: cylinders, hoses, fittings, oil level and condition, leaks, and smooth full-range operation.
• Engine and fluids: oil, coolant, fuel, exhaust, air filter, belts, battery condition and any leaks under the machine.
• Attachments and underbody: attachment security and rating, pins and lock, tyres or tracks, undercarriage and structure.
• Structural condition: chassis, welds, mounts and protective structures for cracks, deformation or corrosion.
• Compliance and documentation: registration, last and next inspection, service records, operator competency and keys.
• Declaration and sign-off: confirmation the inspection was completed, defects recorded and unsafe plant withdrawn from use.

1. Define the inspection scope and interval before you start.

   Confirm which asset you are inspecting and whether this is a scheduled monthly, quarterly or statutory inspection rather than a daily pre-start. Record the equipment type, asset or fleet number, make, model, serial number and current hour or meter reading so the result attaches to the correct asset and interval.

2. Isolate the plant and inspect guards and safety devices first.

   Where the inspection requires access to moving parts, isolate and lock out the energy source. Check fixed and interlock guards are present and secure, test emergency stops and isolation points, and confirm ROPS or FOPS, the seatbelt and warning decals are intact, in line with AS 4024 machinery safety requirements.

3. Examine controls, hydraulics, engine and fluids in turn.

   Test steering, brakes, levers, gauges and warning devices, then operate the hydraulics through full travel watching for drift or leaking hoses and cylinders. Check oil, coolant, fuel, the air filter, belts and battery, and look under the machine for leaks. Use sight, sound and feel for abnormal wear or vibration.

4. Inspect attachments, tyres or tracks and the structure.

   Confirm any attachment is secure, correctly rated and pinned, then check tyres or tracks and the undercarriage for wear and damage. Examine the chassis, welds, mounts and protective structures for cracks, deformation or corrosion that would affect the safe operation of the machine under load.

5. Mark each item Pass, Fail or N/A and log defects with severity.

   Record a result for every item. For each fail, write a clear defect description, location and severity, and withdraw the plant from service for critical defects such as failed guarding, brake faults or structural cracks. Assign the rectification action and responsible person so the repair is tracked to closure rather than forgotten.

6. Confirm compliance, sign off and store the record.

   Check registration, service records and operator competency are current and the next inspection date is set. Sign and date the form, then file it against the asset's maintenance history. In MapTrack, submit the periodic inspection so it attaches to the equipment record with readings and defect photos and triggers the next scheduled inspection.

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

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.

Each source was read at its publisher and the page checked on 26 October 2026. The publisher's current text is the authority.

• Model WHS Regulations (Safe Work Australia)

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

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