Free WHS workplace inspection checklist

What is a WHS workplace inspection checklist?

A WHS workplace inspection checklist is a structured document used to systematically inspect a workplace for health and safety hazards, verify that existing controls are in place and functioning, and identify non-conformances that require corrective action. The checklist covers key inspection categories including housekeeping and work environment, electrical safety, fire safety and emergency equipment, first aid provisions, hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods, manual handling, plant and equipment condition, personal protective equipment, signage and barriers, traffic management, and welfare facilities. Each item is marked as satisfactory, unsatisfactory or not applicable, with space for defect descriptions and corrective actions.

Under the WHS Act 2011, a PCBU has a primary duty of care under Section 19 to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers and other persons at the workplace. Regular workplace inspections are a fundamental part of the PCBU risk management obligations under the WHS Regulations, which require the PCBU to identify hazards, assess risks and implement controls on an ongoing basis. Officers of the PCBU have a separate duty under Section 27 to exercise due diligence, which includes taking reasonable steps to ensure the PCBU has appropriate processes for receiving and considering information about incidents, hazards and risks. A documented workplace inspection program using a standardised checklist provides the systematic process that satisfies these duties and creates an auditable record of hazard identification and corrective action.

Learn more about compliance and inspections in MapTrack.

Benefits of digitising forms in MapTrack

When you move your checklists from paper to 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).
• Escalate critical hazards instantly to safety managers via push notification.
• Maintain an auditable safety register that satisfies WHS regulator requests.
• Correlate incident trends across sites with built-in safety analytics.

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What to include in a WHS workplace inspection checklist

This WHS workplace inspection checklist covers 11 key areas:

• Inspection details: workplace name, area or zone inspected, inspector name and role, date, time, inspection type (routine, follow-up, post-incident), weather conditions if outdoors.
• Housekeeping and work environment: general cleanliness, walkway and aisle clearance, floor condition (wet, damaged, uneven), lighting adequacy, ventilation, temperature, noise levels, dust and fume control.
• Electrical safety: switchboard condition and access, power point and cord condition, RCD testing currency, portable electrical equipment testing and tagging, no overloaded circuits or daisy-chained extension leads.
• Fire safety and emergency equipment: fire extinguisher condition and service tags, emergency exit signage and lighting, escape route clearance, fire door condition and self-closing function, alarm system testing records, assembly point signage.
• First aid: first aid kit contents and expiry dates, first aid room condition, first aider names and currency of qualifications displayed, eye wash station condition and solution expiry, defibrillator (AED) condition and pad expiry.
• Hazardous chemicals and dangerous goods: Safety Data Sheets (SDS) current and accessible, chemical register up to date, storage in accordance with SDS and AS 3780, bunding and spill containment, signage, PPE for chemical handling.
• Plant and equipment: pre-start inspection records current, guarding in place and functional, emergency stop devices operational, maintenance tags and service records, registration and certification current for major plant.
• PPE and signage: mandatory PPE signage displayed, workers wearing required PPE, PPE condition and fit, hazard signage current and visible, barricading and exclusion zones in place.
• Traffic management: pedestrian and vehicle separation, speed limit signs, reversing procedures and spotters, loading area controls, parking arrangements, traffic management plan compliance.
• Welfare facilities: toilets clean and stocked, hand washing facilities operational, drinking water available, break room condition, sun protection (shade structures, sunscreen) for outdoor workers.
• Overall result: summary of satisfactory and unsatisfactory items, total deficiencies, corrective action register with responsible persons and due dates, inspector signature.

How often should you complete this checklist?

Workplace inspections should be conducted at regular intervals proportionate to the risk level of the workplace. For construction sites and high-risk industrial workplaces, weekly inspections are standard practice. For commercial offices and lower-risk workplaces, monthly inspections are typical. The WHS Regulations require the PCBU to manage risks on an ongoing basis, and regular inspections are the primary mechanism for identifying new hazards and verifying that existing controls remain effective. Additional inspections should be conducted after any workplace incident, near miss, change in work processes, introduction of new plant or chemicals, or when a worker raises a health and safety concern. Follow-up inspections to verify corrective action completion should be scheduled within one to two weeks of the original inspection for high-priority items.

Applicable regulatory standards

This template aligns with the following regulations and standards:

• WHS Act 2011 Section 19 (Primary duty of care)
• WHS Act 2011 Section 27 (Duty of officers)
• WHS Act 2011 Section 28 (Duties of workers)
• WHS Regulations 2011 (Managing risks to health and safety)
• Safe Work Australia Code of Practice: How to Manage Work Health and Safety Risks

Related resources

More safety templates and guides:

• Safety inspection checklist
• Monthly site inspection checklist
• Hazard identification form
• Risk assessment template
• Incident report form
• Safety inspections
• Safety compliance
• Pricing