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Free machine start-up and shut-down checklist (PDF-ready). Pre-start, running checks and safe shut-down steps for plant and machinery, tick and initial.

Jarrod Milford

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 22 June 2026
Also see:Maintenance and work orders →Best CMMS software →MapTrack vs MaintainX →

Key takeaways

  • Covers three stages: pre-start and start-up, running checks, then safe shut-down and isolation.
  • Most plant damage happens in a rushed cold start or a hot shut-down under load.
  • The operator ticks and initials each section so the record is genuine, not back-filled.
  • A defined shut-down leaves the machine parked and isolated, so the next shift inherits a known state.
  • A dated, initialled checklist is evidence of a safe system of work for WHS and ISO 55001.

Updated 22 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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Used by construction, mining and field service teams

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What is a machine start-up and shut-down checklist?

A machine start-up and shut-down checklist is an operational procedure that walks an operator through powering a machine up safely, confirming it runs correctly, and shutting it down without leaving a hazard or damaging the asset. It is split into three stages: pre-start and start-up checks done before and as the machine is energised, running checks made once it is operating, and shut-down checks that bring it to a safe, parked, isolated state. Each step is a numbered line the operator ticks and initials, covering guards, isolation points, fluid levels, controls, emergency stops, pressures, temperatures, leaks, unusual noise, and the correct sequence for stopping and isolating at the end of a run or shift.

Getting start-up and shut-down right protects both people and the machine. Most plant damage and a fair share of incidents happen in the first minutes of a cold start or the last minutes of a rushed shut-down, when a guard is missing, a valve is left open, or a hot machine is killed under load. A consistent checklist forces the operator to confirm the machine is safe before it moves and parked correctly before they walk away, so the next shift inherits a known state. A dated, initialled checklist is also auditable evidence that plant is operated and maintained through a safe system of work under the Work Health and Safety Act, and it feeds the operating history that asset management under ISO 55001 relies on.

Learn more about maintenance and work orders in MapTrack.

Benefits of using this machine start-up and shut-down checklist

  • Fewer cold-start failures: confirming oil, coolant and warm-up before load stops the damage that a rushed cold start does to an engine or pump.
  • Safer operation: checking guards, isolation points and emergency stops before the machine moves keeps the operator and bystanders out of harm.
  • Clean handover state: a defined shut-down leaves the machine parked, isolated and safe, so the next shift inherits a known condition.
  • Early fault detection: running checks on pressure, temperature, noise and leaks catch a developing fault before it becomes a breakdown.
  • Repeatable across operators: a numbered, ticked sequence means every operator starts and stops the machine the same way, with nothing skipped.
  • Audit evidence: a dated, initialled checklist shows plant is operated through a safe system of work for WHS and ISO 55001 reviews.

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).
  • Trigger work orders automatically when a fault is logged during an inspection.
  • Track service intervals by hours, kilometres or calendar date in one place.
  • Attach supplier invoices and parts receipts to each maintenance record.

Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles checklists.

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What to include in a machine start-up and shut-down checklist

This machine start-up and shut-down checklist covers 10 key areas:

  • Asset name, ID or serial number, and the site or location of the machine
  • Operator name, shift, date, and machine hours or odometer at start
  • Pre-start checks: guards in place, area clear, isolation removed, fluid levels
  • Start-up sequence in the correct order, including warm-up before load
  • Controls and safety devices: emergency stop, alarms, lights and gauges tested
  • Running checks: pressures, temperatures, noise, vibration and leaks within range
  • Production or duty notes such as load, output or material run during the shift
  • Shut-down sequence: unload, cool down, stop, park, then isolate in order
  • Isolation and lockout confirmed, keys secured, and machine left safe
  • Faults found and sign-off: operator initials each section, supervisor verifies

How to use this machine start-up and shut-down checklist

  1. Walk around and complete the pre-start checks: Before energising anything, walk the machine and tick the pre-start lines: guards fitted, area clear of people and obstructions, isolation removed, and oil, coolant and fuel at the right levels. Initial the section so it is clear the checks were genuinely done, not assumed.
  2. Start up in the correct sequence: Follow the start-up order on the sheet rather than going straight to load. Energise, test the emergency stop and key alarms, let the machine reach operating temperature, and confirm gauges read normal before applying any duty so a cold machine is never loaded.
  3. Make the running checks once operating: With the machine under normal duty, work the running-check lines: confirm pressures and temperatures sit in range, listen for unusual noise or vibration, and look for leaks. Tick each item and note anything drifting so a developing fault is caught early rather than at failure.
  4. Shut down and park the machine safely: At the end of the run or shift, follow the shut-down sequence: take the load off, allow the cool-down the manual requires, stop the machine, and park it in a safe position. Killing a hot machine under load is a common cause of damage, so respect the order.
  5. Isolate, secure and sign off: Isolate and lock out the machine, secure the keys, and tick the isolation lines so the machine is left in a known safe state. Record any fault found during the shift, initial each completed section, and pass the sheet to the supervisor to verify before the next start.

In MapTrack, you can schedule and track maintenance digitally. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

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How often should you complete this checklist?

Run the pre-start and start-up checks before the machine is operated on each shift, and the shut-down checks at the end of every run or shift. For plant that runs continuously across shifts, the start-up section is completed at the first start of the day and the shut-down section when the machine is finally parked, while the running checks are repeated at set intervals through the shift.

Keep the completed checklists with the asset record rather than discarding them, because the running-check readings build a simple trend of pressures, temperatures and faults over time. Review the checklist whenever the machine is modified, a new fault pattern appears, or the manufacturer updates the operating sequence, so the steps stay accurate. A checklist that no longer matches the machine gets ticked without thought, which is worse than no checklist at all.

Frequently asked questions

The Work Health and Safety Act requires a person conducting a business to provide and maintain plant that is safe and to operate it through a safe system of work. A start-up and shut-down checklist is that system written down: it forces the operator to confirm guards, isolation and emergency stops before the machine moves, and to park and isolate it safely afterwards. The dated, initialled sheet is objective evidence that the safe operating procedure was followed, which matters during a regulator audit or after an incident investigation.

A pre-start checklist confirms a machine is safe to operate before the shift and stops there. A start-up and shut-down checklist is wider: it covers the start-up sequence, the running checks made while the machine operates, and the shut-down and isolation steps at the end. The pre-start is one stage of it. Use a pre-start where you only need the go or no-go safety check, and a full start-up and shut-down checklist where the correct power-up order, in-run monitoring and a clean parked handover all matter.

The operator running the machine completes it, because they are the person energising it, watching it run and parking it. They should be trained and competent on that machine and initial each section as it is done, rather than ticking the whole sheet at the end. The supervisor reviews completed checklists, follows up any fault raised, and verifies the running-check readings. Keeping it with the operator who did the work, then countersigned, is what makes the record trustworthy if it is ever audited.

The start-up section is done once at the first start and the shut-down section once when the machine is finally parked, but the running checks should repeat through the shift. A common pattern is every two to four hours, plus any time the machine sounds, smells or feels different. Plant under heavy or continuous duty warrants more frequent checks than a machine running light. Set the interval against the duty the machine sees and note the time of each running check so the readings build a usable trend.

A rushed shut-down causes more damage than people expect. Stopping a hot engine or pump under full load, before the cool-down the manual specifies, can warp components, bake oil and shorten the life of the machine. Leaving a valve open, a guard off or the machine un-isolated also hands the next shift a hazard. Following the shut-down sequence brings the machine to a safe, cool, parked and isolated state every time, which protects both the asset and whoever starts it next.

Yes, it is completely free. Open it in your browser, then use Print and choose Save as PDF to keep a copy or print a pad for each machine. You do not need a MapTrack account. If you want to move beyond paper, MapTrack runs start-up and shut-down checklists as mobile forms against each asset, flags failed items as work orders, and keeps the operating and maintenance history in one place. Start free or book a demo to see how.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

  • Work Health and Safety Act 2011 (duty to provide and maintain safe plant)
  • Work Health and Safety Regulation 2017, plant operation and maintenance (s213)
  • AS 4024.1 Safety of machinery (safe operation, guarding and emergency stops)
  • ISO 55001:2024 Asset management (controlled operating and maintenance records)

Related resources

More maintenance templates and guides:

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