Free drill rig pre-start checklist
Free drill rig daily pre-start checklist (PDF-ready). Covers mast, drill head, hydraulics, tracks, cab, engine and safety checks. Download free.
Updated 2 May 2026
Drill Rig Daily Pre-Start Checklist
Drill rig daily inspection: complete before first use each shift
Walk-Around
Engine & Fluids
Tracks & Undercarriage
Mast & Drill Head
Hydraulics
Cab & Controls
Safety Devices
Lights & Electrics
Operator Sign-off
Signature
Print name
Date & time
Supervisor / Reviewer Acknowledgement
Signature
Print name
Date
How to use: download the PDF, print or complete digitally on any device.
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These templates are free general guides provided as-is. They do not constitute legal, safety or compliance advice. You are responsible for ensuring any form meets your specific workplace obligations, industry standards and applicable regulations.
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Key takeaways
- The MapTrack drill rig pre-start checklist contains 36 checks across 8 sections. Sections covered: Walk-Around, Engine & Fluids, Tracks & Undercarriage, Mast & Drill Head, Hydraulics, Cab & Controls, Safety Devices, Lights & Electrics.
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Used by construction, mining and field service teams
What is a drill rig pre-start checklist?
A drill rig daily pre-start checklist is a structured form used to inspect a drill rig before it is operated each day or shift. Drill rigs are used across civil construction, mining, geotechnical investigation and foundation work to bore, drive or drill into the ground. Because of the significant forces involved and the complexity of the mast, drill head, hydraulics and rotating components, a thorough pre-start is essential. The checklist helps operators and supervisors confirm the drill rig is safe and fit for use, reducing the risk of mechanical failures, accidents and non-compliance. It covers everything from the tracks and undercarriage to the mast, drill head, hydraulics, cab controls and safety devices, catching problems such as worn wire ropes, hydraulic leaks or faulty emergency stops before they lead to costly downtime or incidents. In Australia, drill rig inspections must comply with AS 4024 (Safety of machinery) and the WHS Regulations. In mining operations, the WHS (Mines) Regulations impose additional requirements. Under the WHS Act 2011, the person conducting a business or undertaking (PCBU) has a primary duty of care to ensure plant is without risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. Chapter 5 of the WHS Regulations sets out specific duties for the management and control of plant, including requirements for inspection, maintenance and operator competency. Drill rigs present equipment-specific hazards such as entanglement in rotating drill strings, struck-by incidents from unsecured drill rods, high-pressure hydraulic injection injuries and collapse of unstable ground around the borehole. A documented daily pre-start is the standard method for demonstrating compliance.
Learn more about pre-start inspections in MapTrack.
Benefits of using this drill rig pre-start checklist
- Fewer breakdowns: catch mast, hydraulic and drill head issues early before they become costly repairs or unplanned downtime.
- Operator safety: verify guards, emergency stops, handrails and safety devices are in place before the drill rig is used.
- WHS compliance: meet Work Health and Safety requirements for drill rig operation and demonstrate due diligence for plant inspection.
- Preventive maintenance: extend the life of your drill rig by identifying wear on wire ropes, hydraulic hoses and undercarriage components before they fail.
- Consistency across drill crews: a standardised checklist ensures critical checks are not missed regardless of which operator or crew is running the rig.
- Recordkeeping for audits: maintain a verifiable history of pre-start inspections for audits, insurance claims and incident investigations.
Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack
When you digitise drill rig checklists in MapTrack, you get:
- Field users can easily scan a QR code to complete a form on mobile. Unlimited users.
- Automatically get alerts when faults are identified.
- Link every form digitally as a PDF to the relevant asset, location or person.
- Receive a digital PDF copy with every submission to your email.
- Ability to share forms digitally.
- Build conditional logic (show or hide questions based on answers).
- Take pictures or attach photos. Not possible with a paper-based form.
- Electronic signatures.
- Edit forms later without reprinting.
- Restrict permissions (who can view, complete or approve).
- Build forms with AI (describe what you need and MapTrack suggests the form).
- Auto-schedule pre-start forms so operators are prompted before every shift.
- Flag overdue pre-starts on the dashboard so nothing leaves the yard unchecked.
- Link each pre-start to the asset record for a complete inspection history.
Book a demo to see how MapTrack handles drill rig checklists.
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What to include in a drill rig pre-start checklist
This drill rig pre-start checklist covers 11 key areas:
- Drill rig details: asset ID, make/model, serial number, hours reading.
- Operator details: name, licence/ticket number, date, site/location.
- Walk-around: general condition and damage, visible leaks, ground conditions and stability.
- Engine and fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel, air filter, DEF/AdBlue (if fitted).
- Tracks and undercarriage: track tension, sprockets, rollers and idlers, track pads, no debris.
- Mast and drill head: mast pins and bolts secure, drill head condition, winch and wire ropes, kelly bar or drill rods, centraliser or guide.
- Hydraulics: rams and cylinders (no leaks), hoses secure (no chafing), connections and couplings, hydraulic gauges.
- Cab and controls: cabin access and housekeeping, seatbelt, mirrors and camera, wipers and washers, gauges and displays.
- Safety devices: fire extinguisher, first aid kit, emergency stops, guards and handrails, beacon or strobe.
- Lights and electrics: headlights and work lights, indicators, battery terminals.
- Overall result, defects table, operator and supervisor sign-off.
How to use this drill rig pre-start checklist
- Complete drill rig and operator details at the top of the checklist, including the hours reading.: Record the rig asset ID, make and model, serial number and current hour meter. Enter your name, competency or licence details, site location and the date and time of the inspection.
- Perform a walk-around inspection before entering the cab. Check for leaks, damage, debris and ground stability around the rig.: Circle the rig looking for hydraulic or oil puddles underneath, cracked welds on the mast or chassis and loose bolts. Confirm the ground is stable and level enough to support the rig during drilling operations.
- Go through each checklist item and inspect the corresponding component. Mark Pass or Fail (and add notes if needed).: Inspect mast pins and bolts for tightness, check wire rope condition for broken strands or kinks, test drill head rotation and verify hydraulic gauges read within normal range before proceeding.
- If any item fails, note it and do not operate the drill rig until it is rectified or approved. Report defects per your procedures.: Tag the rig out of service for critical defects such as mast structural damage, failed emergency stops or wire rope faults. Notify the supervisor and maintenance team for immediate rectification.
- Sign and date when the check is complete. Keep the form for your records or export/save as PDF.: Confirm all items are marked Pass, Fail or N/A. Print your name, sign and date the form. In MapTrack, submit the inspection to automatically link it to the drill rig asset record.
In MapTrack, you can run digital pre-starts attached to each asset. Each submission is stored as a timestamped PDF against the asset record.
Get the free templateEnter your email above to download the full drill rig pre-start checklist as a PDF.Back to download formHow often should you complete this checklist?
Complete a drill rig pre-start inspection before each use or at the start of each shift. If the drill rig has been relocated to a new site, has had repairs, or was used by another operator, perform a fresh check. Many construction and mining sites require a daily pre-start for all plant and equipment. In mining operations, the WHS (Mines) Regulations may impose additional inspection frequencies. Your company policy, site rules or contract may specify additional frequency. When in doubt, complete the checklist each time the drill rig is used. In MapTrack, you can schedule daily pre-starts and periodic service inspections and track compliance across your entire drill rig fleet.
Frequently asked questions
Applicable regulatory standards
This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:
- AS 4024 (Safety of machinery)
- WHS (Mines) Regulations
- WHS Regulations (plant and equipment)
Drill rig pre-start checklist preview
The numbers behind this drill rig pre-start checklist
Every figure below is sourced and dated, so you can quote it in a toolbox talk, a budget case or a board paper without having to chase the original report.
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<div style="max-width:480px;font-family:system-ui,-apple-system,'Segoe UI',Roboto,sans-serif;border:1px solid #E5E7EB;border-radius:12px;padding:20px;background:#ffffff;">
<p style="font-size:12px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:0.05em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#071D49;margin:0;">Free template</p>
<p style="font-size:18px;font-weight:700;color:#071D49;margin:6px 0 0;">Drill rig pre-start checklist</p>
<ul style="margin:12px 0 0;padding-left:18px;color:#374151;font-size:14px;line-height:1.6;">
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Drill rig details: asset ID, make/model, serial number, hours reading.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Operator details: name, licence/ticket number, date, site/location.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Walk-around: general condition and damage, visible leaks, ground conditions and stability.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Engine and fluids: engine oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, fuel, air filter, DEF/AdBlue (if fitted).</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Tracks and undercarriage: track tension, sprockets, rollers and idlers, track pads, no debris.</li>
<li style="margin:4px 0;">Mast and drill head: mast pins and bolts secure, drill head condition, winch and wire ropes, kelly bar or drill rods, centraliser or guide.</li>
</ul>
<p style="font-size:13px;color:#6B7280;margin:14px 0 0;padding-top:12px;border-top:1px solid #E5E7EB;">Free <a href="https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-pre-start-checklist" style="color:#071D49;font-weight:600;text-decoration:none;">Drill rig pre-start checklist</a> by MapTrack</p>
</div>Free to reuse, including commercially. This template is published under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. Copy it, adapt it, put it on your own site or in your own docs. All we ask is that you credit MapTrack with a link back to this page. The snippet above already includes that credit, so if you use it as-is you’re covered.
Cite this template
Writing about this topic? You’re welcome to quote this checklist. Here’s the wording to use so your readers can find the original.
The MapTrack drill rig pre-start checklist contains 36 checks across 8 sections.
- Short attribution
- MapTrack Drill rig pre-start checklist, https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-pre-start-checklist
- Reference list
- MapTrack. (2026). Drill rig pre-start checklist [Checklist template]. Retrieved from https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-pre-start-checklist
Free to reuse with credit under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence. If you’d rather link straight to it, the page is https://www.maptrack.com/templates/drill-rig-pre-start-checklist.
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