Glossary · Safe work, maintenance and competence
Pre-use check
Also known as: pre-shift check, daily check
In machine safety, a pre-use check is a user-level check before each use or shift to identify obvious defects or unsafe conditions. It is quick, visual or functional, and does not replace inspection or maintenance.
- Machine safety
- Human factors
In one sentence
A pre-use check is the operator’s quick look before a shift for obvious defects. It is useful, but no substitute for periodic inspection.
Example
At the start of each shift, the forklift driver checks tires, forks, horn and brakes, and the press operator tests the light curtain with the test rod before production.
How it applies
- Human factors: Keep the check short and specific, or it becomes a signature ritual. Each item should be something an operator can see or test without tools.
- Machine safety: Some protective devices need a user test at start of shift, such as a light curtain test. The operating manual states which ones and how.
- Technical documentation: Give the check as a checklist with a clear rule: what the user does when an item fails, usually “do not use, report”.
- Evidence: Checklists show the check was done, but they only catch obvious faults. Inspection intervals for deeper checks remain necessary.
Pre-use check vs. pre-startup inspection
The pre-use check is routine and done by the user. The pre-startup inspection is event-driven and more formal.