Free Pre-Start Checklist (Material Lift) Template

Purpose of the Free Pre-Start Checklist (Material Lift) Template

Regularly inspecting equipment before use is a fundamental part of workplace safety. This free Pre-Start Checklist (Material Lift) Template provides a structured starting point for organisations to formalise their daily safety checks.

Using a checklist helps operators systematically identify potential faults or hazards that could lead to equipment failure, property damage, or serious injury. Consistent pre-start inspections are a key requirement under Australian WHS regulations, demonstrating a proactive approach to risk management.

They not only help ensure the lift is safe for operation but also contribute to the equipment's longevity by catching minor issues before they become major, costly repairs.

Integrating these checks is a critical component of a hazard management plan for high-risk plant. A thorough pre-start inspection provides the foundation for other safety documents, such as a scissor lift risk assessment template, which can be adapted for similar elevating work platforms.

Formalising this process helps embed a positive safety culture where equipment checks are seen as a non-negotiable part of the daily routine. These records also serve as important evidence of your organisation's due diligence during safety consultations or audits.

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

This resource is available for download in both DOCX and PDF formats. The DOCX version is fully editable, allowing you to tailor the checklist to the specific make, model, and configuration of the material lifts used in your workplace.

This customisation is essential for ensuring all relevant components and safety features are inspected.

Important: This is a template, not a finished document. We have provided a structured starting point based on common industry practice, but you must adapt it to your specific equipment, operational context, and risk profile.

Add your company branding, specific check items relevant to your lifts (e.g., specific hydraulic connections, battery condition indicators), and any site-specific safety rules. A generic checklist is not sufficient; customisation is key to effective risk management.

Integrating this process into your broader comprehensive WHS management systems ensures it becomes a documented and repeatable part of your operations.

Implementing the Pre-Start Checklist:

• Train Operators: Ensure every operator is trained on not just how to operate the lift, but also how to properly conduct the pre-start inspection using the customised checklist.
• Conduct the Check: The operator should physically walk around and test the material lift, verifying each item on the checklist before starting their shift.
• Document Findings: The operator must sign and date the completed checklist. Any identified faults, damage, or concerns must be clearly noted.
• Report and Rectify: If any defects are found, the material lift must be immediately removed from service, tagged out, and reported to a supervisor or the maintenance team. It should not be used until it has been inspected by a competent person and certified as safe.

When to use a Material Lift Pre-Start Checklist

A pre-start check must be completed before the material lift is used for the first time on any given day or at the beginning of each shift. If the equipment is used by multiple operators across different shifts in a single day, each new operator should perform their own pre-start check before commencing work.

This ensures that any issues that may have developed during a previous shift are identified promptly. Documenting these steps provides a clear safety record and helps in the development of other critical documents, such as a Safe Work Method Statement for scissor lift operations, by ensuring the equipment itself is verified as safe before the task begins.

Who should use it

The pre-start checklist should be completed by the person operating the material lift. This individual must be deemed competent, meaning they have received the necessary training, instruction, and information to perform the check thoroughly and safely.

It is the responsibility of the Person Conducting a Business or Undertaking (PCBU) to ensure operators have this competency. Supervisors and managers also have a role in verifying that the checks are being completed correctly and that action is taken when faults are reported.

A great way to reinforce this responsibility is by using a Pre-Start Checks and Plant Maintenance toolbox talk to refresh worker knowledge.

Verifying that an operator understands not just how to use the equipment but also how to inspect it can be formalised through a verification of competency process. For similar types of plant, you can adapt our free Scissor Lift VOC (Verification of Competency) Template to confirm this capability.

The results of these pre-start checks should be periodically reviewed by management as part of routine site inspections or more formal WHS compliance audits to ensure the process is effective and being followed diligently.