A compact loader can look ready to work while having a damaged tyre, a leaking hose or an attachment that is not secured properly. A clear site can change too: a delivery may block the planned route, workers may enter the operating area, or rain may make the ground slippery.
A pre-start check gives the operator and crew a chance to catch problems before work begins. It works when the check reflects the equipment and the job, and when someone acts on what it finds.
Check the machine and the work area
Use the manufacturer’s instructions and a checklist suited to the equipment. For a compact loader, for example, the check might cover tyres or tracks, leaks, attachments and locking pins, guarding, controls, brakes, warning devices and the seatbelt. A ute and trailer need checks suited to their own components and use.
The site needs attention too. Before operating, consider the ground conditions, slopes, overhead hazards, access route, other workers and members of the public. Confirm that people on foot can be kept clear of the plant’s path and that the planned work area is still suitable.
Safe Work Australia’s model code on managing risks of plant covers the risks involved in using and managing equipment at work. Its risk management code provides broader guidance on identifying hazards, choosing controls and reviewing whether they work. Check with your local regulator about which model codes apply in your state or territory.
A failed check needs a response
A checklist does not make defective equipment safe. If a check reveals a fault that could affect safe operation, the operator should stop and report it under the business’s process. The equipment should not be used until an authorised person has assessed the issue and decided what happens next.
That process should make clear:
- who receives defect reports
- how equipment is kept out of service when necessary
- who can approve a repair or return to service
- how the crew will continue the job safely in the meantime.
A handwritten note that no one reads, or a defect that appears on the next day’s checklist without follow-up, is not an effective control.
Make the check fit the job
A pre-start is more than a machine inspection. Ask whether the equipment is suitable for the work planned today, whether the operator is authorised and competent, and whether the site or work sequence has changed.
For example, a loader that was suitable on firm, level ground may not be appropriate on a wet slope. A clear route may become unsuitable when materials are delivered or another trade starts work nearby. If circumstances change, pause and reassess the plan.
Workers should know how to raise a concern and who can make the call to stop or change the work. Managers should take those concerns seriously and tell the crew what action was taken. Safe Work Australia’s PCBU guidance includes managing risks and responding to work health and safety issues.
Keep records useful
The aim is not to collect the most forms. A short, clear record can show which equipment was checked, when it was checked, who completed the check and what defects or follow-up actions were recorded. The business should also review recurring faults and repeated workarounds; they may point to a maintenance or planning problem that needs attention.
Pre-start checks help turn equipment and site risks into decisions before someone is exposed to them. Make the checklist practical, give people time to complete it, and ensure every identified problem has an owner and a follow-up.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. Businesses should follow the equipment manufacturer’s instructions and assess the risks of their own work, equipment and site conditions.