Equipment & Maintenance
Daily
Machine Inspection Checklist (Free Excel Template)
A machine inspection checklist for the check an operator does before starting a machine each day. It fits one machine and one month on a sheet, with 13 checks on safety devices, machine condition, tooling, and the work area.
Excel (.xlsx) · 4 sheets · Updated 2026-10-21
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Who is this machine inspection checklist for?
- Machine operators on lathes, mills, presses, and other production machines
- Shop supervisors who sign off that pre-start checks were done
- Safety coordinators building a machine safety checklist for each work cell
When to use it
The operator fills it in before starting the machine at the beginning of each shift. Use one sheet per machine per month, keep it at the machine, and have the supervisor initial it.
What's included
The template includes the following. Delete anything you do not need.
- Header for machine name, machine ID, department, and month
- Safety devices: emergency stop, guards and fences, interlocks, leftover lockout/tagout devices
- Machine condition: hydraulic and air leaks, lube oil and coolant levels, noise and smell, gauges and lights
- Tooling and workpiece: tools, fixtures, and chuck secured; workpiece clamped
- Operator and work area: clear aisle, PPE, loose clothing and jewelry
- Operator and supervisor initials for each day, a defect record, and a print sheet
Preview the Excel file
This is the actual file. Use the tabs below to switch between the 4 sheets. How to mark each result is explained on the "Instructions" sheet.
| A | |
|---|---|
| 1 | Machine Inspection Checklist (Pre-Start) |
| 2 | |
| 3 | ■ Source |
| 4 | Worker Library https://worker-library.com/templates/machine-inspection-checklist/ |
| 5 | Request a template or an extra item: https://worker-library.com/contact/ |
| 6 | |
| 7 | ■ Sheets in this workbook |
| 8 | "Entry Sheet" … The sheet you fill in on a computer. Landscape layout. |
| 9 | "Sample (Filled In)" … A filled-in example. Use it as a guide to how each column is written. |
| 10 | "Print (Letter)" … For printing and filling in by hand. Taller rows, and the column headings repeat at the top of every page. Set up for US Letter. |
| 11 | |
| 12 | ■ How to use |
| 13 | 1. Make one sheet per machine and fill in the machine name and ID. |
| 14 | 2. Before starting the machine, check each item and pick ✓, X, or N/A in that day's column. |
| 15 | 3. If any item is X, do not run the machine until it is fixed or the supervisor decides. Write it in the defect record. |
| 16 | 4. The operator initials each day; the supervisor initials after checking the sheet. |
| 17 | 5. At the end of the month, file or scan the sheet and start a new one. |
| 18 | |
| 19 | ■ How to mark results, and what to do (read before you start) |
| 20 | ✓ OK … Use as normal. |
| 21 | X Defect … Stop using it right away. Tell your supervisor and fill in the defect record below. |
| 22 | N/A … Not applicable today. Do not leave the cell blank. A blank cell means "not checked". |
| 23 | The person doing the inspection may decide to stop. Nobody is blamed for stopping. If in doubt, mark X. |
| 24 | After a repair, do not use it until the verifier writes the date and time it was returned to service. |
| 25 | |
| 26 | ■ Adapting it to your site |
| 27 | • Add checks your machine needs, such as light curtains, two-hand controls, chip guards, or a spindle warm-up. |
| 28 | • Delete rows that do not apply, for example coolant on a machine that runs dry. |
| 29 | • For a fuller monthly check of the same machine, use the preventive maintenance checklist alongside this one. |
| 30 | |
| 31 | ■ Things to watch |
| 32 | • This is a general template for pre-start checks, not an official OSHA form, and it does not cover every hazard on every machine. |
| 33 | • Do not reach into a machine or remove a guard to inspect it while it can move. Follow your lockout/tagout procedure. |
| 34 | • Some machines have their own inspection rules (for example, cranes and forklifts). Use a checklist made for that equipment where a rule applies. |
| 35 | • Follow the manufacturer's manual for checks and intervals specific to your model. |
| 36 | |
| 37 | ■ About this template |
| 38 | A free inspection template from Worker Library. |
| 39 | You may copy, edit, and print it for use in your own organization. Add or delete items as you need. |
| 40 | Please do not redistribute or sell the template itself. |
| 41 | |
| 42 | ■ Important notice |
| 43 | This template organizes common inspection items for reference. It is not an official form issued by OSHA or any other authority, and using it does not by itself show compliance. |
| 44 | Which inspections are required, how often, and how long records must be kept depend on the equipment, industry, size of the operation, and location (federal, state, and local rules can all apply). |
| 45 | Check the regulations and standards that apply to you, the manufacturer's instructions, and a qualified or competent person. |
| 46 | Worker Library accepts no liability for any loss arising from the use of this template. |
| 47 | Regulations change. Check the source page above for the latest version. |
| 48 | |
| 49 | ■ Updated |
| 50 | 2026-10-21 (reviewed every 3 months) |
| 51 | |
| 52 | ■ About Worker Library |
| 53 | Worker Library publishes free Excel inspection checklists, logs, and forms for maintenance, safety, and quality teams. |
| 54 | All templates: https://worker-library.com/templates/ |
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Machine Inspection Checklist (Pre-Start) | |||||
| 2 | Machine | Machine ID | ||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | Inspection item | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | ■ Safety devices | |||||
| 6 | Emergency stop button works | |||||
| 7 | Safety guards and fences correctly installed | |||||
| 8 | Interlocks work | |||||
| 9 | No lockout/tagout locks or tags left on from earlier work | |||||
| 10 | ■ Machine condition | |||||
| 11 | No hydraulic or air leaks | |||||
| 12 | Lube oil and cutting fluid (coolant) levels within range | |||||
| 13 | No abnormal noise or smell | |||||
| 14 | Gauges and indicator lights normal | |||||
| 15 | ■ Tooling and workpiece | |||||
| 16 | Tools, fixtures, and chuck secured | |||||
| 17 | Workpiece clamped securely | |||||
| 18 | ■ Operator and work area | |||||
| 19 | No unneeded items around the machine; aisle clear | |||||
| 20 | PPE worn (safety glasses, gloves where allowed, etc.) | |||||
| 21 | Loose clothing, jewelry, and long hair secured | |||||
| 22 | Operator (initials) | |||||
| 23 | Supervisor check (initials) | |||||
| 24 | ||||||
| 25 | Defect record (fill in every time you mark a defect. Fill left to right in the order things happened. "Condition found" is written by the person who found it, "Corrective action" by the person who fixed it, "Verified by" by the person who checked it.) | |||||
| 26 | Date / item | Condition found | ||||
| 27 | ||||||
| 28 | ||||||
| 29 | ||||||
| 30 | ||||||
| 31 | Reviewed by (supervisor) | |||||
| 32 | ||||||
| 33 | ||||||
| 34 | Notice: This is a general-purpose inspection record. It is not an official government form and does not by itself show compliance with OSHA or any other regulation or standard. | |||||
| 35 | Which inspections you need, how often, and how long to keep records depend on your equipment, industry, and location. Check the regulations that apply to you, the manufacturer's instructions, and a qualified person. | |||||
| 36 | Worker Library accepts no liability for any loss arising from the use of this template. Regulations change; check the source page for the latest version. | |||||
| 37 | Worker Library https://worker-library.com/templates/machine-inspection-checklist/ Updated 2026-10-21 | |||||
This preview shows the first 6 of 33 columns. The downloaded file contains everything.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Machine Inspection Checklist (Pre-Start) [SAMPLE] | |||||
| 2 | Machine | CNC lathe | Machine ID | L-07 | ||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | Inspection item | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | ■ Safety devices | |||||
| 6 | Emergency stop button works | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 7 | Safety guards and fences correctly installed | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 8 | Interlocks work | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 9 | No lockout/tagout locks or tags left on from earlier work | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 10 | ■ Machine condition | |||||
| 11 | No hydraulic or air leaks | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 12 | Lube oil and cutting fluid (coolant) levels within range | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | X | ✓ |
| 13 | No abnormal noise or smell | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 14 | Gauges and indicator lights normal | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 15 | ■ Tooling and workpiece | |||||
| 16 | Tools, fixtures, and chuck secured | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 17 | Workpiece clamped securely | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 18 | ■ Operator and work area | |||||
| 19 | No unneeded items around the machine; aisle clear | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 20 | PPE worn (safety glasses, gloves where allowed, etc.) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 21 | Loose clothing, jewelry, and long hair secured | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 22 | Operator (initials) | JD | JD | MS | JD | JD |
| 23 | Supervisor check (initials) | |||||
| 24 | ||||||
| 25 | Defect record (fill in every time you mark a defect. Fill left to right in the order things happened. "Condition found" is written by the person who found it, "Corrective action" by the person who fixed it, "Verified by" by the person who checked it.) | |||||
| 26 | Date / item | Condition found | ||||
| 27 | 8/4 Coolant tank | Cutting fluid at the low mark | ||||
| 28 | ||||||
| 29 | ||||||
| 30 | ||||||
| 31 | Reviewed by (supervisor) | |||||
| 32 | ||||||
| 33 | ||||||
| 34 | Notice: This is a general-purpose inspection record. It is not an official government form and does not by itself show compliance with OSHA or any other regulation or standard. | |||||
| 35 | Which inspections you need, how often, and how long to keep records depend on your equipment, industry, and location. Check the regulations that apply to you, the manufacturer's instructions, and a qualified person. | |||||
| 36 | Worker Library accepts no liability for any loss arising from the use of this template. Regulations change; check the source page for the latest version. | |||||
| 37 | Worker Library https://worker-library.com/templates/machine-inspection-checklist/ Updated 2026-10-21 | |||||
This preview shows the first 6 of 33 columns. The downloaded file contains everything.
| A | B | C | D | E | F | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Machine Inspection Checklist (Pre-Start) | |||||
| 2 | Machine | Machine ID | ||||
| 3 | ||||||
| 4 | Inspection item | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| 5 | ■ Safety devices | |||||
| 6 | Emergency stop button works | |||||
| 7 | Safety guards and fences correctly installed | |||||
| 8 | Interlocks work | |||||
| 9 | No lockout/tagout locks or tags left on from earlier work | |||||
| 10 | ■ Machine condition | |||||
| 11 | No hydraulic or air leaks | |||||
| 12 | Lube oil and cutting fluid (coolant) levels within range | |||||
| 13 | No abnormal noise or smell | |||||
| 14 | Gauges and indicator lights normal | |||||
| 15 | ■ Tooling and workpiece | |||||
| 16 | Tools, fixtures, and chuck secured | |||||
| 17 | Workpiece clamped securely | |||||
| 18 | ■ Operator and work area | |||||
| 19 | No unneeded items around the machine; aisle clear | |||||
| 20 | PPE worn (safety glasses, gloves where allowed, etc.) | |||||
| 21 | Loose clothing, jewelry, and long hair secured | |||||
| 22 | Operator (initials) | |||||
| 23 | Supervisor check (initials) | |||||
| 24 | ||||||
| 25 | Defect record (fill in every time you mark a defect. Fill left to right in the order things happened. "Condition found" is written by the person who found it, "Corrective action" by the person who fixed it, "Verified by" by the person who checked it.) | |||||
| 26 | Date / item | Condition found | ||||
| 27 | ||||||
| 28 | ||||||
| 29 | ||||||
| 30 | ||||||
| 31 | Reviewed by (supervisor) | |||||
| 32 | ||||||
| 33 | ||||||
| 34 | Notice: This is a general-purpose inspection record. It is not an official government form and does not by itself show compliance with OSHA or any other regulation or standard. | |||||
| 35 | Which inspections you need, how often, and how long to keep records depend on your equipment, industry, and location. Check the regulations that apply to you, the manufacturer's instructions, and a qualified person. | |||||
| 36 | Worker Library accepts no liability for any loss arising from the use of this template. Regulations change; check the source page for the latest version. | |||||
| 37 | Worker Library https://worker-library.com/templates/machine-inspection-checklist/ Updated 2026-10-21 | |||||
This preview shows the first 6 of 33 columns. The downloaded file contains everything.
Cells marked ▼ have a drop-down list. Lightly shaded rows are where you write.
File details
| Format | Excel (.xlsx) |
|---|---|
| Works with | Microsoft Excel 2016 or later, Excel for Microsoft 365, Google Sheets, LibreOffice Calc |
| Paper | Print areas set for US Letter |
| Sheets | Instructions / Entry Sheet / Sample (Filled In) / Print (Letter) |
| Macros | None |
| File size | About 22 KB |
| Updated | 2026-10-21 |
How to use the machine inspection checklist
- Make one sheet per machine and fill in the machine name and ID.
- Before starting the machine, check each item and pick ✓, X, or N/A in that day's column.
- If any item is X, do not run the machine until it is fixed or the supervisor decides. Write it in the defect record.
- The operator initials each day; the supervisor initials after checking the sheet.
- At the end of the month, file or scan the sheet and start a new one.
Adapting it to your site
- Add checks your machine needs, such as light curtains, two-hand controls, chip guards, or a spindle warm-up.
- Delete rows that do not apply, for example coolant on a machine that runs dry.
- For a fuller monthly check of the same machine, use the preventive maintenance checklist alongside this one.
Before you use it
Please read
- This is a general template for pre-start checks, not an official OSHA form, and it does not cover every hazard on every machine.
- Do not reach into a machine or remove a guard to inspect it while it can move. Follow your lockout/tagout procedure.
- Some machines have their own inspection rules (for example, cranes and forklifts). Use a checklist made for that equipment where a rule applies.
- Follow the manufacturer's manual for checks and intervals specific to your model.
- This template is provided as-is for reference. Worker Library is not liable for any loss arising from its use. Regulations change, so check the update date on this page.
Machine Inspection Checklist FAQ
What should be on a machine inspection checklist?
A pre-start machine checklist usually covers the emergency stop, guards, interlocks, leaks, fluid levels, noise, gauges, tooling and workpiece clamping, and the work area and PPE. This template has 13 such checks. Add the items your manufacturer's manual lists for your model.
How often should machines be inspected?
Many shops have the operator check the machine before the first start of each shift and do a more detailed preventive maintenance check monthly. The right interval for your machine is in the manufacturer's manual.
Who does the pre-start machine inspection?
Usually the trained operator who will run the machine, with a supervisor reviewing the sheet. Repairs are done by maintenance or another qualified person.
How long should I keep machine inspection records?
For general machines there is no single retention period. Many companies keep checklists for at least a year. Follow your company policy and any rule that applies to your specific equipment.