Pre-use checks are often overlooked but they are an effective way to prevent accidents, says Chris McCartney of CoreRFID – and digital technology helps to engage workers in the process

Every engineer knows the importance of equipment safety and the need for regular inspections. Rules such PUWER, LOLER and PSSR make it compulsory for companies to carry out periodic examinations and a thriving inspection industry has developed to help them comply.

However while formal inspections are an important safeguard, simple routine checks carried out by the company’s own staff can be even more effective in preventing accidents. Pre-use inspections are typically performed by the operator at the start of each shift or before each use.

Although they require no specialist skills and take only minutes to complete, because of their frequency, they can detect hazards and faults as soon as they occur – which may be months before the next formal inspection is due. By allowing problems to be addressed at an early stage, they can not only improve safety but also minimise damage and reduce the cost of repairs.

However while they are considered best practice under PUWER (Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations), and a legal requirement under LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations), these informal routines are often overlooked in practice. Even when checks are carried out, different workers may apply different standards, fail to record the results properly, file their paperwork or report faults to the right people.

Digital technology can overcome these problems. Companies create customised checklists for each type of equipment and operators are guided through the process using a mobile app. The data is automatically recorded and any defects are instantly reported. Digital technology brings greater consistency and transparency. In our experience, it also helps to engage operators and highlight the importance of the inspection process.

As specialists in inspection software, we work with inspection companies and equipment users and have long understood the benefits of pre-use checks. We recently launched a dedicated Pre-Use Checks App and the initial results from users have strengthened our conviction.

The trials show that early detection of faults through pre-use checks could not only improve safety, but could also extend equipment life and reduce damage costs by 12–18%. Clients also report that the use of the app has resulted in stronger accountability and its ability to engage operators has led to a noticeable improvement in safety culture.

Britain has made great strides in improving workplace safety. According to HSE, 124 workers died in work-related incidents in year to March 2025 – almost half the number 20 years ago and are roughly a quarter of the deaths reported in 1981. However there is scope to reduce that figure still further.

Falls from height, being struck by a moving vehicle or a moving object remain the three main causes of fatal injury and it is easy to see how equipment could play a role - an unstable MEWP (mobile elevated work platform), a worn safety harness or missing locks on a vehicle lift, for example.

Pre-use checks can often detect hazards like these. By encouraging the use of these simple daily routines, we can drive higher safety standards and help save lives.