Free Pre-Start Checklist (Spray Gun) Template

Purpose of the Free Pre-Start Checklist (Spray Gun) Template

Using a spray gun involves significant workplace health and safety risks, including high-pressure injection injuries, exposure to hazardous chemicals, and fire or explosion hazards. A structured pre-start inspection is a critical safety control.

This Free Pre-Start Checklist (Spray Gun) Template provides a formal method for operators to inspect their equipment before each use, helping to identify potential faults or damage that could lead to an incident. By documenting these checks, your organisation can demonstrate proactive risk management and a commitment to worker safety.

This process helps meet PCBU duties under Australian WHS legislation by ensuring plant is safe to use. For tasks involving volatile substances, managing exposure to hazardous fumes and vapours is critical, often requiring equipment like that covered in our Free Pre-Start Checklist for Fume Cabinets.

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

To implement this Pre-Start Checklist, download the template in your preferred format (DOCX or PDF). The checklist guides the user through inspecting key components, including the gun body, trigger and safety catch, hoses and fittings, nozzles, and pressure settings.

It also includes prompts for checking that the correct Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is available and in good condition. Integrating this process into your daily routine is a practical step towards building stronger WHS management systems, providing tangible evidence of risk control measures.

Customisation is Essential

It is crucial to recognise that this document is a template. We provide it as a starting point, but you must review and customise it to suit the specific models of spray guns, the types of materials being sprayed (paints, coatings, chemicals), and the unique environment of your workplace.

Your customisation ensures the checklist is relevant and effective for your operations.

When to use it

A spray gun pre-start check should be conducted at the beginning of every shift or before the equipment is used for the first time on any given day. It should also be performed after any maintenance, repair, or if the equipment has been idle for an extended period.

Consistency is key; making the pre-start check a non-negotiable part of the setup process helps reinforce safe work habits. While this checklist is for general-purpose spray guns, specialised equipment requires its own specific checks, such as those detailed in our Free Pre-Start Checklist for Bitumen Sprayers.

Who should use it

The primary user of the checklist should be the trained and competent operator assigned to use the spray gun. They are in the best position to notice small changes or developing faults in the equipment they use regularly.

Supervisors or managers should also be involved by periodically reviewing completed checklists. This oversight helps identify recurring equipment issues, potential gaps in training, or trends that might indicate a broader problem.

Completed records can also serve as valuable evidence during a formal WHS compliance audit, demonstrating a systematic approach to equipment safety. For organisations needing assistance to embed these processes, our WHS consulting team can provide expert guidance on training, implementation, and system development.

Explore our complete free WHS resources library for more templates and tools to support your safety management program.