Free Pre-Start Checklist (Cherry Picker) Template

Purpose of the Free Pre-Start Checklist (Cherry Picker) Template

Operating a cherry picker, or any mobile elevating work platform (EWP), involves significant safety risks, including falls from height, structural failure, and electrocution. This Free Pre-Start Checklist (Cherry Picker) Template provides a structured framework for operators to conduct thorough, systematic inspections before each use.

Formalising these checks helps identify potential faults and hazards before they can cause an incident, ensuring the equipment is safe to operate.

Using a documented checklist demonstrates a proactive approach to safety and is a key component of an effective safety management system. It creates a verifiable record that inspections are being performed, which helps a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) meet their primary duty of care under Australian WHS laws.

Integrating these checks into a broader framework helps create robust and reliable WHS management systems that protect workers.

The principles of pre-use inspection are critical for all forms of high-risk mobile plant, not just EWPs. Similar documented checks are essential for other heavy equipment to ensure mechanical and structural integrity.

For example, our Free Pre-Start Checklist (Forwarder) Template applies the same systematic approach to forestry machinery.

How to use the Free Pre-Start Checklist (Cherry Picker) Template

This checklist is available for download as both a DOCX file for easy editing and a PDF for immediate printing and use. It provides a comprehensive starting point aligned with Australian WHS practice for inspecting common cherry picker components and safety features.

Important: This template is a guide and must be adapted to your specific circumstances. We recommend you customise it by adding, removing, or modifying checks to suit the specific make and model of your cherry picker, your unique site conditions, and your organisation's safe work procedures.

To implement the checklist effectively, first review and customise the document. Next, train all operators on how to complete the checklist correctly and what actions to take if a fault is found, such as tagging the equipment out of service and reporting the issue.

Supervisors should periodically review completed checklists to ensure they are being filled out diligently, which can be verified during a formal WHS compliance auditing process.

A consistent pre-start inspection process should be applied across all workplace plant and equipment, regardless of size or complexity. Applying this discipline to workshop tools, for instance, reinforces a strong safety culture, which is why we also provide resources like our Free Pre-Start Checklist (Bench Grinder) Template.

When to use it

A pre-start check must be completed:

• Before the first use of the cherry picker at the start of each day or shift.
• After any incident, even if no damage is apparent.
• After significant repairs or maintenance have been carried out.
• If there is any reason to suspect the EWP may have developed a fault.

Completed checklists should be retained as a record of inspection and maintenance, providing valuable data for safety analysis and incident investigation.

Who should use it

The pre-start checklist should be completed by a worker who is trained and competent in the safe operation of the specific model of cherry picker being used. They must have the knowledge to identify the listed components and recognise potential defects or signs of wear.

Supervisors and managers are responsible for ensuring that operators are completing the checks correctly and that appropriate action is taken when faults are reported. Ultimately, the PCBU has the overall responsibility to provide and maintain safe plant and a safe system of work.

For organisations needing assistance in establishing these clear roles and responsibilities, our WHS consulting services can provide expert guidance.

By consistently using this pre-start checklist, your organisation can better manage the risks associated with EWP operation and foster a stronger safety culture. Explore our free WHS resources library for more templates and tools to support your safety management efforts.