Safety inspection checklist (PDF) and defects list (Excel)
45 checkpoints in nine areas as a PDF checklist with yes/no/not applicable and space for defects – plus an Excel defects list with owners, deadlines and status.
As of PDF and ExcelAMS Go editorial team
Regular inspections are the most effective way to spot hazards before something happens. In Germany, they are part of organising occupational safety (Section 3 of the Occupational Safety and Health Act) and among the tasks of the occupational safety specialist and the company doctor (Sections 3 and 6 of the Occupational Safety Act, ASiG).
The checklist guides you through 45 checkpoints in nine areas, from traffic routes to documentation. The defects list makes sure every finding turns into a measure with an owner and a deadline.
What the template contains
- PDF checklist with 45 checkpoints in nine areas and columns for yes, no, not applicable
- Space for defects and measures directly on the checklist
- Excel defects list with priority, owner, deadline, status and effectiveness review
- Drop-down lists for priority and status
How to use the template
- 1
Prepare the inspection
Define the area and participants – ideally the manager, safety representatives and the occupational safety specialist. Bring the defects list from the last inspection.
- 2
Inspect with the checklist
Go through the checkpoints on site and talk to employees. Photos of defects make follow-up easier.
- 3
Follow up on defects
Transfer every defect to the defects list and assign priority, owner and deadline. At the next inspection, check whether the measure has been implemented and works.
Legal basis
- Section 3 ArbSchG: basic duties of the employer, organisation
- Sections 3 and 6 ASiG: inspections by the occupational safety specialist and company doctor
- Section 11 ASiG: the occupational safety committee discusses the results
- Technical Rules for Workplaces (ASR) as the benchmark for traffic routes, escape routes, lighting and fire safety
Frequently asked questions
How often should a safety inspection take place?
There is no fixed interval. Quarterly inspections by managers and safety representatives have proven effective, plus at least one annual inspection with the occupational safety specialist and company doctor. More often in high-risk areas.
Who should take part in the inspection?
The area manager, the safety representatives, the occupational safety specialist and – depending on the topic – the company doctor and the works council. Employees on site should be involved; they know the weak spots.
Does the inspection report have to be kept?
There is no explicit duty, but reports show that the employer is meeting their duty to organise occupational safety and are valuable after an accident or during visits by authorities. Recommended: at least until the inspection after next, better for several years.
You may use and adapt the template freely in your own company and for your own clients. It reflects the regulations named as they stand, but does not replace legal advice or adapting it to your own company.
Never search a spreadsheet for a deadline again
In AMS Go, what this template covers lives in one system with reminders, history and records at the push of a button – mobile and with AI support.
