Free Pre-Start Checklist (Combine) Template

Purpose of the Free Pre-Start Checklist (Combine) Template

Operating a combine harvester involves significant risks, from mechanical and hydraulic failures to fires and entanglement. A systematic pre-start inspection is a critical control measure to identify potential hazards before they cause an incident.

This Free Pre-Start Checklist (Combine) Template provides a structured framework for operators to conduct thorough daily checks, ensuring the machine is safe to operate. Using this template helps a Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) meet their primary duty of care by formalising equipment inspections and record-keeping.

It standardises the inspection process across all operators, creating a consistent approach to safety and maintenance. The checklist serves as a starting point for developing a procedure that complements your Combine Harvester SOP (Safe Operating Procedure).

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

Our template is provided as a fully editable DOCX file, allowing for complete customisation to your specific machinery and operational context. Before deploying it in your workplace, you must adapt it.

This includes adding the make and model of your combine harvester, specific safety components unique to your machine, and any site-specific rules or communication protocols. Consider adding checks for GPS systems, yield monitors, and specific header attachments.

Integrate the completed checklists into your broader WHS management systems to ensure records are maintained, reviewed, and acted upon. We have included common inspection points, but it is your responsibility to ensure the final document is comprehensive and suitable for your organisation's needs.

Customising your checklist:

• Add your company branding and specific machine details (make, model, plant number).
• Review and modify the checklist items to match the components of your combine harvester (e.g., augers, threshing drum, belts, chains, walkers).
• Incorporate checks related to fire mitigation, such as inspecting for combustible crop residue buildup around the engine bay and exhaust systems.
• Include items for checking communication equipment and emergency stop functionality.
• Ensure the procedure for reporting faults and tagging out unsafe equipment is clearly stated on the form.

When to use it

The pre-start checklist should be completed by the operator before the combine harvester is used for the first time each day or at the beginning of each shift. It is a pre-operational check designed to catch faults that may have developed overnight or during previous use.

It is also a valuable tool during harvest season when machinery is operating for long hours under demanding conditions. Reinforcing the importance of these checks can be achieved through regular safety meetings, using resources like a Pre-Start Checks and Plant Maintenance Toolbox Talk to keep safety front-of-mind for all workers.

Who should use it

The primary user of this checklist is the trained and competent operator of the combine harvester. They are in the best position to assess the machine's condition immediately before use.

Supervisors and managers should also be familiar with the checklist to ensure operators are completing it correctly and to review completed forms for recurring issues or maintenance trends. Maintenance personnel can use the information from completed checklists to schedule preventative maintenance and prioritise repairs.

The principles of pre-start inspections apply to a wide range of machinery; just as a CNC Router pre-start checklist is vital for workshop safety, this document is essential for agricultural operations.

By embedding this checklist into daily routines, you create a proactive safety culture where potential problems are identified and managed before they escalate. It transforms the inspection from a tick-box exercise into a meaningful risk management activity.

Verifying that these procedures are consistently followed is a key part of maintaining safety standards, which can be confirmed through processes like WHS compliance auditing. This ensures that safety documentation is not just a paper exercise but a lived reality in the field.

This document is just one of many tools designed to help you build a safer workplace. For more templates and guides covering a wide range of WHS topics, browse our complete free WHS resources library for documents that can support your safety management efforts.