What should a rescue kit inspection checklist include?

A rescue kit inspection checklist should cover all equipment required to carry out a rescue from the intended hazard (confined space and/or working at heights). For confined space rescue this typically includes: rescue rope (condition, length, rated load), a descender or rescue device (e.g. MPD, I'D or similar), anchor slings and straps, karabiners (gate action, locking, rating mark), pulleys, a rescue stretcher or rescue litter (for non-ambulant rescues), a first aid kit (dedicated to the rescue kit), a communication device (two-way radio or equivalent), a gas detector (calibrated, in date) and a standby person's harness. Storage bag or container condition and all labels and expiry dates should also be checked. The overall result, any defects and a declaration with inspector sign-off should be recorded.

How often should a rescue kit be inspected?

Rescue kits must be inspected before every confined space or heights work task. This is a pre-use check by the standby person or rescue team. A formal documented inspection (such as this checklist) should be completed by a competent person at least every 6 months, or more frequently as required by the manufacturer or your organisation's safety management system. The gas detector must be bump-tested and calibrated to the manufacturer's schedule. Any item that has been used in a rescue, subjected to a load or damaged must be removed from service and inspected before it is returned to use.

Who should inspect a rescue kit?

Pre-use checks before each confined space entry or heights task should be carried out by the standby person or a competent member of the rescue team. Formal periodic inspections (as documented with this checklist) should be completed by a competent person with training in rescue equipment inspection. This is typically someone who has completed working-at-heights or confined space rescue training and has demonstrated competency in assessing the equipment in the kit. For rope rescue equipment in particular, the person inspecting should have current training in rope rescue and be familiar with the specific equipment types in the kit.

Is this rescue kit inspection checklist free to use?

Yes. Download and use this rescue kit inspection checklist completely free. Open the HTML file in your browser and use the browser Print function to save as PDF. No MapTrack account is required. For teams that want to go digital, MapTrack lets you complete rescue kit inspections on a tablet or phone with photo capture, automatic date tracking and centralised records accessible from any device.

What happens if a rescue kit item fails inspection?

Any item that fails inspection must be immediately removed from the rescue kit and tagged as out of service. The kit must not be returned to service until the failed item has been replaced with a serviceable equivalent. Common reasons for failure include degraded webbing on harnesses, sticky karabiner gates, core damage in rescue rope, expired gas detector calibration and missing or illegible manufacturer labels. Record the defect, the item serial number and the corrective action taken in the inspection form. Notify the site supervisor or safety officer so a replacement can be sourced before the next confined space entry or heights work task.

Free rescue kit inspection checklist

Jump to download form ↓

Enter your email below to download this rescue kit inspection checklist as a ready-to-use PDF.

Free rescue kit inspection checklist (PDF-ready). Confined space and heights rescue gear: rope, descender, slings, karabiners and harness. Download free.

Jarrod Milford

Commercial Director

Updated 3 May 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

See template in action →

Download free PDF template

Trusted by teams across Australia and New Zealand

We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe anytime.

Preview the template

See the first part of the rescue kit inspection checklist below. Download the full version above.

Download to get full template →

What is a rescue kit inspection checklist?

A rescue kit inspection checklist is a form used to systematically verify the condition and completeness of all equipment required to carry out an emergency rescue from a confined space or a working-at-heights scenario. Under the WHS Regulations (confined spaces and work in elevated positions), a rescue capability must be established before any person enters a confined space or works at height, and the rescue equipment must be suitable, in working order and immediately available. The checklist covers the rope and rigging components (rescue rope, anchor slings, karabiners), rescue devices (descender, pulleys, tripod), personal equipment (standby person's harness), emergency items (first aid kit, communication device, gas detector) and the storage container. This template uses a Pass / Fail / N/A format and includes space for defects, corrective actions and sign-off.

Rescue equipment failures during an actual emergency are among the most catastrophic outcomes in workplace safety. A harness with degraded webbing, a karabiner with a sticky gate, or a gas detector with expired calibration can turn a rescue attempt into a second casualty event. The purpose of this checklist is to confirm every item in the kit is present, undamaged, within its service life and ready for immediate deployment. It should be completed by a person with current training in the relevant rescue discipline. Under WHS Regulations 2011 and Safe Work Australia codes of practice, rescue equipment must be available and functional before any work at height, confined space entry or other activity where rescue may be required. Maintaining a documented inspection register for every rescue kit ensures the organisation can demonstrate readiness during regulatory audits and insurance assessments.

Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.

Benefits of using this rescue kit inspection checklist

Life safety: rescue equipment that is damaged, incomplete or out of service life may fail at the exact moment it is needed most; systematic checks prevent this.
WHS compliance: meet your obligations under the WHS Regulations for confined space entry and working at heights; demonstrate that rescue capability was verified before work commenced.
Expiry and service life tracking: ropes, harnesses and gas detectors all have manufacturer-specified service lives and calibration intervals; the checklist captures these.
Consistency: a standardised checklist ensures the same level of verification is applied every time, regardless of who is acting as standby person.
Audit and incident evidence: a signed pre-use record confirms the kit was checked and ready; critical evidence in the event of a near-miss or incident.
Completeness assurance: confirms nothing has been removed from the kit and not replaced after a previous use.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you digitise rescue kit 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).
Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles rescue kit checklists.

Try MapTrack free for 30 days

Full access to every feature. No credit card required. Per-asset pricing so you scale as your fleet grows.

Start free trial

No credit card required
30 days free trial
Cancel anytime

What to include in a rescue kit inspection checklist

This rescue kit inspection checklist covers 8 key areas:

Kit details: location, intended use (confined space / working at heights), kit ID.
Inspector details: name, relevant competency (confined space rescue / working at heights), date.
Rope and rigging (P/F/N/A): rescue rope (condition, sheath integrity, length, rated load label), anchor slings/straps (webbing condition, stitching, hardware, rating), anchor devices (plate, I-anchor or similar).
Rescue devices: descender/rescue device (MPD, I'D or equivalent - function, lock, rating), pulleys (sheave, side plates, axle, rating), tripod or davit arm (if applicable - condition, leg locks, rated load).
Personal equipment: standby person's harness (webbing, stitching, D-ring, buckles, labels, expiry), karabiners (gate action, locking, rating marks, no cracks).
Emergency equipment: rescue stretcher/litter (condition, straps), first aid kit (sealed, in date), communication device (charged, tested), gas detector (calibration current, bump-tested, charged).
Storage and labels: storage bag/container (clean, dry, no damage), all manufacturer labels legible, all expiry dates checked.
Overall result, defects table and declaration.

How to use this rescue kit inspection checklist

Record the kit details (location, intended use, kit ID) and your inspector details, including your relevant rescue competency.: Note the kit storage location (e.g. "rescue locker, confined space entry point A"), the intended use scenario (confined space rescue, heights rescue or both), and the unique kit identification number from your asset register. Record your name, role, the date and your relevant competency, such as confined space rescue or industrial rope rescue. Only a person with current training and demonstrated competency in the relevant rescue technique should perform the formal periodic inspection.
Lay out all items from the kit. Work through each section of the checklist - rope and rigging, rescue devices, personal equipment and emergency items.: Remove every item from the storage container and lay them out on a clean, dry surface in a systematic order. This ensures no item is overlooked inside the bag. Cross-reference the contents against the kit inventory list to confirm nothing is missing. If an item was removed for a previous use or training exercise and not returned, flag it immediately. A rescue kit must be 100 percent complete to be fit for service.
For the rescue rope, run the full length through your hands, feeling for damage, kinks, core softness or sheath damage. Confirm the length and rated load label are legible.: Feed the rope slowly through gloved hands, squeezing gently to feel for lumps, flat spots, core shot (where the inner core is visible through the sheath) or stiffness from chemical contamination. Check the entire sheath surface visually for abrasion, melting, discolouration and cuts. Confirm the rope length matches the label and meets the rescue plan requirements for the intended entry point. Verify the rated load marking is legible and appropriate for the rescue scenario. Any rope with core damage, extensive sheath wear or unknown load history must be retired.
Check each karabiner individually - open and close the gate, verify the locking mechanism works, check for cracks, corrosion or distortion, and confirm the rating markings are legible.: Open and close the gate several times, feeling for smooth action and full spring return. Engage and disengage the locking mechanism (screw gate, triple action or auto-lock) to confirm it secures positively. Inspect the body, spine, gate and nose for cracks, scoring, corrosion, distortion or sharp edges. Confirm the rated load markings (gate closed and gate open) are legible. Reject any karabiner with a sticky gate, incomplete lock engagement, visible cracks, or illegible ratings.
Check the descender/rescue device - confirm it operates correctly (load-locking function, panic stop if fitted), check for wear on the friction surfaces and housing.: Thread a short section of rope through the device and test the lowering and locking functions. Confirm the device locks under load and that the panic-stop auto-lock (if fitted) engages when the handle is released or pulled too far. Inspect the cam, friction plates, housing and side plates for grooves, cracks, burrs and excessive wear. Check that all pins, screws and retaining clips are present and secure. Follow the manufacturer inspection criteria for the specific device model (e.g. Petzl I'D, CMC MPD).
Check the standby person's harness following the same systematic approach as a standard harness inspection - webbing, stitching, D-rings, buckles and labels.: Inspect each section of webbing from the dorsal D-ring downward: shoulder straps, chest strap, waist belt and leg loops. Look for cuts, abrasion, heat damage, chemical contamination, fraying and pulled stitching. Flex D-rings and buckles to check for cracks, distortion and corrosion. Confirm the manufacturer label is legible and includes the serial number, date of manufacture, standards compliance marking and rated capacity. Check that the harness is within its service life as specified by the manufacturer, typically ten years from manufacture or five years from first use.
Bump-test the gas detector and confirm calibration is current. Test the communication device. Check the first aid kit seal and expiry of contents.: Expose the gas detector to a known concentration of test gas (bump test) and confirm that all sensors alarm within the manufacturer-specified response time and reading tolerance. Check the calibration sticker for the next due date and ensure it has not passed. Turn on the communication device (two-way radio or similar), confirm battery level is adequate, and test transmission and reception with a partner. Open the first aid kit, verify the seal is intact, and check each item against the contents list for presence and expiry date. Replace any expired items before returning the kit.
Check all manufacturer labels for legibility, note any items that are at or near their service life expiry.: Review the label on every item in the kit: ropes, slings, karabiners, harness, rescue device and gas detector. Confirm each label includes the manufacturer name, model, serial number, date of manufacture, standards compliance and rated capacity. Calculate the remaining service life based on the manufacturer recommendation and the date of first use (if recorded). Flag any item that is within three months of its service life expiry so replacements can be ordered in advance. An item with no legible label or unknown manufacture date must be retired.
Record the overall result, note any defects, sign and date. Any item marked fail must be removed from the kit and replaced before the kit is returned to service. Do not use a rescue kit with any failed or missing item.: Assign an overall result: Pass (all items satisfactory and kit complete), or Fail (one or more items defective, missing or expired). There is no conditional pass for a rescue kit; every item must be serviceable. Record each defect with a description, the item serial number and the action taken (replaced, retired, sent for recertification). Sign and date the inspection record. Store the completed form with the kit and enter a copy into the central inspection register. Notify the site supervisor or safety officer of any failed items so replacements are sourced before the next entry or heights task.

In MapTrack, you can digitise safety inspections and compliance forms. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.

Get the free template

Enter your email above to download the full rescue kit inspection checklist as a PDF.

Back to download form

How often should you complete this checklist?

A rescue kit must be checked before every confined space entry or heights work task. This is a mandatory pre-use check by the standby person. A formal documented inspection using this checklist should be completed by a competent person at minimum every 6 months, or more frequently if specified by the manufacturer or your organisation's safety management system. The gas detector must be bump-tested before each use and calibrated on the manufacturer's schedule (typically every 6 months). Any item that has been used in a rescue, subjected to a load, or found to be damaged must be immediately removed from service and inspected by a competent person before it can be returned to use. Keep a record of every inspection and any items replaced.

Frequently asked questions

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

AS 2865 - Confined spaces (rescue requirements)
WHS Regulations 2011 - Part 4.3 (confined spaces, rescue arrangements)
WHS Regulations 2011 - Chapter 6 (construction work, working at heights)
AS/NZS 1891 - Industrial fall arrest systems and devices

Need to digitise safety inspections and compliance forms?

Register every rescue kit in MapTrack, attach digital forms, and get a complete history of every inspection, service and compliance record.

Start free trial Book a demo

Compliance and inspections · All templates · Pricing · Book a demo