A workshop inspection checklist for school, college, maintenance and vehicle workshops: layout and access, one entry per machine (guard, stop, isolation, signage, condition), hand and power tools, dust extraction, the welding bay, chemical storage, PPE, first aid and eyewash, fire, and supervision. Teaching and vehicle checks only appear when they apply.
Inspection Details
Which workshop, what kind, and who looked round it.
Inspection Title
Reference
School, College or Company
Address
Workshop name or room number
Kind of workshop — Design and technology (school), Engineering (college or training), Woodwork, Metalwork or fabrication, Motor vehicle, Maintenance, Makerspace or community, Mixed, Other
Is this a teaching workshop used by students?
Person responsible for the workshop
Your Company
Inspected by
Your Role
Date
Time
Since the Last Inspection
Open items first. They are this inspection's headline if they are still open.
Has every action from the last workshop inspection been closed out? — Yes, No, N/A
Which are still open, who owns them, and what is in the way?
Any injuries, near misses or damage reported since that walk?
What happened, and what changed as a result?
Anything new since then — a machine, a process, a layout, a substance?
What is new, and was it assessed before it was used?
Layout, Access and Environment
The room before the machines: space, floor, air and light.
Is the workshop tidy, with offcuts and waste cleared from benches and the floor? — Yes, No, N/A
Is there enough room around each machine to work and pass without being in someone's way? — Yes, No, N/A
Are safety zones around machines marked on the floor? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the floor sound and non-slip, with no trailing cables, loose stock or spilt oil? — Yes, No, N/A
Is there enough storage that materials are not leaning against walls and machines? — Yes, No, N/A
Is lighting good at every machine and bench, and in store rooms and on stairs? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the room ventilated well, at a workable temperature, and free of a lingering smell? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the building fabric sound — no broken glazing, damaged doors or wobbly benches? — Yes, No, N/A
Are gas and water isolation valves easy to reach and labelled? — Yes, No, N/A
Are safety signs in the room in good condition and where they need to be? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on the room
Photographs — the room
Machines
One entry per machine. Five checks and a verdict.
Look, and ask the person in charge to demonstrate stops. Do not remove guards or reach into a machine. A machine that fails is switched off, isolated and tagged before you move on.
Is there a room-wide emergency stop that cuts machine power, and has it been tested? — Yes, No, N/A
Is it clear who may use each machine, and is that list followed? — Yes, No, N/A
Are maker's manuals and operating procedures kept where users can find them? — Yes, No, N/A
Are servicing and repair records kept for the machines? — Yes, No, N/A
Machines inspected
What machine is it? — Pedestal or bench drill, Lathe, Milling machine, Bench or pedestal grinder, Bandsaw, Circular or table saw, Planer or thicknesser, Sander, Laser cutter, CNC router, Guillotine or folder, Press, Vehicle lift, Other
Its number or position in the room
Guard fitted, adjusted to the work and not propped open? — OK, Fault, N/A
Stop button within reach of the user, and it stops the machine? — OK, Fault, N/A
Can it be switched off at an isolator and locked off for changes and cleaning? — OK, Fault, N/A
Procedure sheet and PPE sign at the machine and readable? — OK, Fault, N/A
In good order — cable, casing, blades, handles, fixing to floor or bench? — OK, Fault, N/A
Connected to extraction and pulling, where the machine needs it? — OK, Fault, N/A
Verdict for this machine — Fit to use, Taken out of use
What is wrong, and who has been told?
Photo
Notes on machines
Hand Tools
Small tools, small injuries — and lots of them.
Are hand tools in good condition — handles fitted and tight, heads secure? — Yes, No, N/A
Are chisel and punch heads free of mushrooming, and edges kept sharp? — Yes, No, N/A
Do files and rasps all have handles? — Yes, No, N/A
Are tools put back on racks or shadow boards, with sharp edges covered? — Yes, No, N/A
Are vices and clamps fixed firmly, with jaws in good order? — Yes, No, N/A
Are damaged tools removed rather than left in the rack? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on hand tools
Portable Power Tools and Electrics
Everything with a plug or a battery that leaves the bench.
Are portable power tools used in this workshop?
Do portable tools carry an in-date test label, where your regime uses them? — Yes, No, N/A
Are cables and plugs undamaged, with the outer sheath gripped at the plug? — Yes, No, N/A
Are guards fitted on angle grinders and saws, and the right disc or blade in use? — Yes, No, N/A
Are socket circuits protected by an RCD, or a portable one used and tested? — Yes, No, N/A
Are sockets placed where cables do not cross walkways, with no stacked adapters? — Yes, No, N/A
Are batteries charged in a set place, away from combustibles and not left overnight? — Yes, No, N/A
Is faulty equipment tagged out and kept away from usable stock? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on power tools and electrics
Dust and Fume Extraction
Taking away what the machines throw into the air.
Is there dust or fume extraction in this workshop?
Does extraction run whenever a machine that needs it is in use? — Yes, No, N/A
Are hoods and hoses positioned close to the point where dust is made? — Yes, No, N/A
Are ducts, flexible hoses and blast gates intact and not blocked? — Yes, No, N/A
Are collection bags or bins emptied before they are full? — Yes, No, N/A
Has the extraction system had its periodic examination within its interval? — Yes, No, N/A
Is cleaning done with a suitable vacuum rather than a brush or air line? — Yes, No, N/A
Where dust masks are still needed, are they the right grade and fitted? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on extraction
Welding Bay and Gas Cylinders
Arc, flame, fume and stored gas.
Is there a welding or brazing area in this workshop?
Do the curtains or screens round each welding bay close fully, without burns or tears? — Yes, No, N/A
Is fume extraction at each bay working when welding is going on? — Yes, No, N/A
Are arc and hot-work warning signs posted at the bay? — Yes, No, N/A
Are welding helmets, gauntlets and aprons provided in good condition and the right sizes? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the bay kept clear of wood, paper, rags and other things that burn? — Yes, No, N/A
Have staff who weld or supervise welding been trained in its hazards? — Yes, No, N/A
Is student welding always directly supervised by a competent member of staff? — Yes, No, N/A
Are gas cylinders labelled, upright and chained or on a secured trolley? — Yes, No, N/A
In storage, are full and empty cylinders apart and oxygen kept clear of fuel gases? — Yes, No, N/A
Are gas hoses free of leaks, cracks and kinks, with flashback arrestors fitted? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on welding and gas
Photographs — welding bay
Chemical Storage
Glues, finishes, solvents, fluxes, acids — what is here and where it lives.
Are hazardous chemicals stored or used in this workshop?
Is there an up-to-date list of every hazardous product held? — Yes, No, N/A
Is a current safety data sheet on file for each one, and can staff find it? — Yes, No, N/A
Has each been risk assessed for how it is used in this room? — Yes, No, N/A
Has anyone looked at swapping the worst of them for something less harmful? — Yes, No, N/A
Has every bought-in tin and bottle kept its supplier's hazard label intact? — Yes, No, N/A
Are decanted containers labelled with the product and its main hazard? — Yes, No, N/A
Are flammables in a fire-rated cabinet holding nothing else, with its warning signs readable? — Yes, No, N/A
Are acids, alkalis and oxidisers kept apart, with corrosives held in small quantities? — Yes, No, N/A
Is a spill kit suited to what is stored here available? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on chemicals
Vehicle Workshop
Lifts, stands, pits and exhaust — the hazards of working under a car.
Are vehicles worked on in this workshop?
Do vehicle lifts show a current thorough examination and their safe working load? — Yes, No, N/A
Are lift arms positioned on the vehicle's lifting points and locks engaged? — Yes, No, N/A
Are axle stands used under every vehicle raised on a jack, and are they rated and sound? — Yes, No, N/A
Are inspection pits covered or barriered when not in use? — Yes, No, N/A
Is exhaust extraction connected whenever an engine runs indoors? — Yes, No, N/A
Are keys removed from vehicles being worked on and kept under control? — Yes, No, N/A
Is fuel drained into a proper container, with no open flames or sparks nearby? — Yes, No, N/A
Are batteries charged in a ventilated spot away from sparks? — Yes, No, N/A
Is tyre inflation done in a cage or with a clip-on chuck at a safe distance? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on the vehicle workshop
Photographs — vehicle area
Manual Handling and Storage
Sheet, bar, timber and boxes — lifted and stored.
Are heavy items stored between knee and shoulder height, not on top shelves? — Yes, No, N/A
Are material racks and shelving fixed to the wall or floor and not overloaded? — Yes, No, N/A
When a heavy sheet or billet has to move, is there a trolley, hoist or carrier to hand? — Yes, No, N/A
Are proper steps provided for reaching high shelves, rather than stools or benches? — Yes, No, N/A
Are stores labelled and organised so things can be found without climbing or digging? — Yes, No, N/A
Have handling injuries been looked into, with the fix put in place? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on handling and storage
PPE and Noise
What people wear, and whether they can hear afterwards.
Are eye protection, aprons, gloves and ear defenders available in the sizes needed? — Yes, No, N/A
Is PPE kept somewhere clean, and is damaged kit replaced? — Yes, No, N/A
Do machines show the PPE their users must wear? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the right PPE being worn by everyone in the room, staff included? — Yes, No, N/A
Has noise been assessed for the loudest machines, with hearing protection used where needed? — Yes, No, N/A
Are long hair tied back, sleeves rolled and loose jewellery removed near machines? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on PPE and noise
First Aid and Eyewash
The first minute after something goes wrong.
Is a first aid kit in or beside the workshop, stocked and in date? — Yes, No, N/A
Are the names and contact details of first aiders posted and current? — Yes, No, N/A
Is an eyewash station or sealed eyewash bottles available and in date? — Yes, No, N/A
Is there a way to cool a burn quickly — running water or burn dressings? — Yes, No, N/A
Are hand-washing facilities clean, with soap and a way to dry hands? — Yes, No, N/A
Is there an accident record, and are minor injuries actually written in it? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on first aid
Fire and Emergency
Getting out, putting it out, and raising help.
Is the evacuation procedure displayed by the workshop exit? — Yes, No, N/A
Are exits and the route to them clear of stock, machines and bags? — Yes, No, N/A
Are extinguishers of the right type for this room present, mounted and serviced? — Yes, No, N/A
Is a fire blanket mounted near any hot work or heating? — Yes, No, N/A
Are fire exit and hazard signs visible from inside the room? — Yes, No, N/A
Is there an arrangement for anyone working in the workshop alone? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on fire and emergency
Supervision and Induction
Who has been shown what, and who is watching.
Have staff who use or supervise the workshop been inducted and trained for its machines? — Yes, No, N/A
Are training records kept and could you produce them today? — Yes, No, N/A
Are visiting contractors briefed before they work in the room? — Yes, No, N/A
Have the people who use the room been asked how it could be made safer? — Yes, No, N/A
Is there a record of which students have been inducted on which machines? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the number of students per supervising adult kept at a level that allows real supervision? — Yes, No, N/A
Are machines that students may not use clearly marked as staff-only? — Yes, No, N/A
Is the workshop locked, or machines isolated, whenever no competent adult is present? — Yes, No, N/A
Are workshop rules displayed where students see them on the way in? — Yes, No, N/A
Notes on supervision
Findings and Sign-Off
What was taken out of use, what has to happen, and who is doing it.
Anything else you noticed that does not fit above?
Corrective actions
What needs doing
Exactly where
Priority — Stop now, Today, This week, Before next inspection
Owner — a person, not a department
Due by
Photo
Further recommendations, beyond the actions above
Any other photographs
Overall state of the workshop — Good, Acceptable, Needs attention, Poor
Next inspection due
Inspector — signature
Person responsible for the workshop — name
Person responsible — signature
Health & Safety
Workshop Inspection Checklist
A workshop inspection checklist for school, college, maintenance and vehicle workshops: layout and access, one entry per machine (guard, stop, isolation, signage, condition), hand and power tools, dust extraction, the welding bay, chemical storage, PPE, first aid and eyewash, fire, and supervision. Teaching and vehicle checks only appear when they apply.
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A workshop inspection is a regular, recorded look round a room full of machines, benches and tools — checking that each machine is guarded and can be stopped, that dust and fume are being taken away, that chemicals are stored properly and that whoever is working there has been shown how. This checklist gives every machine its own entry, switches teaching and vehicle-workshop checks on only when they apply, and you can fill it in here and download a finished PDF without creating an account.
One form for several kinds of workshop
The word covers a school design and technology room, a college engineering bay, a maintenance shop at the back of a factory, a car repair garage and a community makerspace. Their machines differ, but the inspection is the same shape: the room, each machine, the tools, the air, the welding bay, the store, the people.
The first page asks whether it is a teaching workshop. Answer Yes and questions about student inductions, supervision and access out of hours appear. The vehicle section is switched on separately, for lifts, axle stands, pits and exhaust extraction.
Every machine gets its own entry
A single "machinery — OK" tick covers the drill with a missing chuck guard as easily as the ten machines that are fine. So each machine is logged one at a time: what it is, its number, and five quick checks.
Guard — present, adjusted to the work, and not propped open.
Emergency stop — reachable from where you stand to use it, and it actually stops the machine.
Isolation — a switch or isolator that can be locked off for blade changes and cleaning.
Signage — the safe operating procedure and PPE sign at the machine, readable.
Condition — no damaged cables, loose parts, missing adjustment handles or blunt blades.
Dust and fume are the slow hazards
A blade injury is obvious. Hardwood dust, MDF dust and welding fume are not, and the harm builds over years. Check that extraction is switched on when the machine runs, that the hood is close to where the dust is made, and that the system has had its periodic examination — fourteen months is the UK interval; other places set their own.
Clean up with a vacuum fitted with a suitable filter, not a brush or an air line. Sweeping puts the finest dust straight back into the air people breathe.
Teaching workshops carry extra duties
Where students use machines, the person in charge needs to know who has been shown each machine and signed off on it, and the room needs to be locked when nobody competent is there. Most incidents in teaching workshops happen when a student uses a machine they have not been inducted on, or when the room is left open.
Speak while you walk, and the record writes itself: "Pillar drill 2, chuck guard cracked, removed from use, technician told" takes a breath to say beside the machine.
Common questions
How often should a workshop be inspected?
A recorded walk like this once a term in schools, or monthly in a working shop, is common, with machines given a quick pre-use check every time they are used. Extraction, lifting equipment and gas installations have their own periodic examinations by a competent person.
Who should carry out a workshop inspection?
In a school or college it is usually the workshop technician or head of department; in a business, the shop supervisor or a safety rep. Whoever does it should know how each machine is meant to be guarded and be able to take one out of use.
What should a workshop safety checklist include?
The layout and floor, each machine's guard, stop and isolation, hand and power tools, dust and fume extraction, welding and gas, chemical storage, personal protective equipment, first aid and eyewash, fire safety, and records of who has been trained or inducted.
Do portable power tools need testing?
Depending on where you are, portable electrical equipment may need periodic inspection and testing, often shown by a dated label. Whatever the rule, look at each tool before use for damaged cables, cracked casings and missing guards, and take a faulty one out of use.
What do I do with a machine that fails?
Switch it off and isolate it, put a clear "do not use" tag on it, and tell whoever is responsible for repairs. Record the fault and what you did in its machine entry so the next inspection can see whether it was fixed.