Free WHS Inspection (TAFE Workshop) Template

Purpose of the Free WHS Inspection (TAFE Workshop) Template

TAFE and RTO workshops are dynamic environments filled with machinery, tools, and substances that present unique work health and safety risks. This Free WHS Inspection (TAFE Workshop) Template provides a structured starting point for systematically identifying and assessing hazards specific to vocational training settings.

Regular, documented inspections are a cornerstone of effective safety management, helping your organisation meet its duty of care to both staff and students.

Using this template helps formalise the process of checking for common workshop hazards, such as inadequate machine guarding, poor housekeeping, electrical faults, incorrect storage of hazardous chemicals, and trip hazards. By proactively identifying these issues, you can implement control measures before an incident occurs.

Integrating these inspections is a critical part of developing robust WHS management systems that protect everyone on site.

How to use the Free WHS Inspection (TAFE Workshop) Template

To get the most value from this Inspection template, it must be adapted to the specific context of your workshop. A metalwork facility will have different risks to a commercial cookery kitchen or a hairdressing salon.

Download the DOCX file and customise it to reflect the unique equipment, processes, and layout of your training environment.

We strongly recommend you conduct this customisation process in consultation with the people who use the space every day—the teachers, technicians, and even senior students. Their practical knowledge is invaluable for identifying real-world hazards.

Once finalised, ensure all personnel responsible for conducting the inspections are trained on how to use the document correctly and understand the criteria for each checkpoint. For very specific plant, a general inspection can be supported by a more granular check, such as our Free Pre-Start Checklist (Electric Hoist) Template.

When to use it

Formal workshop inspections should be conducted on a regular, scheduled basis. The appropriate frequency—whether weekly, monthly, or per term—will depend on the level of risk and the intensity of use.

A high-traffic workshop with heavy machinery may require more frequent inspections than a lower-risk environment.

Beyond routine scheduling, this inspection should also be used in specific situations:

• Following any workplace incident, accident, or near miss.
• When new machinery, equipment, or hazardous substances are introduced.
• When work processes or the layout of the workshop are significantly changed.
• Before the commencement of a new school term or a large intake of new students.

Regular inspections form part of the evidence demonstrating proactive safety management, which can be invaluable during a formal WHS compliance audit.

Who should use it

This template is designed for use by individuals with responsibility for safety in a vocational education setting. This typically includes:

• Workshop Supervisors or Managers
• WHS/OHS Advisors and Officers
• Health and Safety Representatives (HSRs)
• Department Heads or Faculty Managers

While one person may lead the inspection, it is best practice to involve a small team, including an HSR and a staff member who works in the area. This collaborative approach improves the quality of the inspection and promotes a positive safety culture.

The findings and any required corrective actions should be formally reported to management for review, sign-off, and resource allocation. If your organisation needs assistance defining these roles and responsibilities, engaging external WHS consulting can provide clarity and direction.

For organisations offering courses in horticulture or groundskeeping, a general workshop inspection can be supplemented with equipment-specific checks. For example, our Free Pre-Start Checklist (Lawn Tractor) Template can be used to formalise daily safety verifications for mobile plant.

This template is just one of many documents available to help you build out your safety systems. You can explore our complete free WHS resources library for more checklists, procedures, and forms to support your safety goals.