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PRACTICAL GUIDE

Digital pre-start inspection guide

Plan mobile pre-start inspections for vehicles, plant and equipment with QR access, clear evidence, defect workflows and offline field use.

STEP 01

Define the inspection and asset scope

A useful digital pre-start begins with the equipment, operating context and accountable response—not a generic paper form copied onto a screen.

  1. 1

    List the vehicle, plant and equipment classes that require a pre-start, including any site-specific variations.

  2. 2

    Record the asset identity, photo and operating details workers should confirm before the inspection begins.

  3. 3

    Choose the responsible supervisor or maintenance group for failed checks and urgent safety issues.

Keep in mindPreStartPilot supports custom workflows, but your competent safety and maintenance personnel remain responsible for deciding the checks and controls required for your work.

STEP 02

Build a field-friendly checklist

The best mobile inspection follows the order a worker encounters the equipment and keeps every action clear on a phone or tablet.

  1. 1

    Group related checks in a practical walk-around order and use short, unambiguous question text.

  2. 2

    Use pass/fail, choice or number fields where possible, and reserve long text for information that genuinely needs explanation.

  3. 3

    Require photos, video, signatures or voice notes only where the evidence improves the decision or audit record.

STEP 03

Connect failures to defect action

A pre-start creates value when a failed answer reaches the right person with the context needed to act.

  1. 1

    Map each failure response to an appropriate severity and decide when an asset should be held from service.

  2. 2

    Create the defect from the inspection answer so the asset, worker, time, location and evidence stay connected.

  3. 3

    Require repair evidence and an authorised return-to-service decision for faults that need controlled close-out.

STEP 04

Launch and improve the workflow

Test the complete experience with the people who will scan, inspect, review and repair before rolling it out broadly.

  1. 1

    Preview the workflow on the supported phones and tablets your team uses, including an offline draft test.

  2. 2

    Place the asset QR where it is easy to scan without exposing the label or worker to avoidable damage or risk.

  3. 3

    Review completion, repeated failures, overdue actions and team feedback, then publish controlled improvements to the form.