Crane Inspection Checklist

How to use the crane inspection checklist

1. Open “Checklist type” and pick the type that matches your equipment: “Crane: each shift”, “Crane: monthly record”, “Overhead crane”, “Chain and wire slings” or “Web, fiber, mesh slings”. The types follow different standards (1926.1412, 1910.179 or 1910.184), so choose the one that fits the work you do.
2. Leave “Title” empty to print the default title of the chosen type, or type your own.
3. Enter a “Crane / sling ID (optional)” to print it in the heading table, or leave it empty to write it by hand.
4. Open More options and decide on the “Notes column” and “Show the source after each item” settings.
5. Turn “Add a defect log” on or off. If it is on, set “Defect log rows” from 0 to 12.
6. Turn “Add a sign-off block” on or off. Set “Blank write-in rows” from 0 to 20 for items of your own.
7. Check the preview. Cells under Pass, Fail and N/A print as empty boxes you can tick by hand.
8. Click Print / save as PDF to print or save the sheet, or click “Download as CSV (opens in Excel)” to save crane-inspection-checklist.csv.

Going over the row limits shows a warning, and a negative number or text gives an error. Fix the value and the preview updates.

Which standard does a crane inspection checklist follow?

A crane inspection checklist follows the standard named for its type, and the standards use different schemes. The construction crane rules in 1926.1412 use each shift, monthly and annual inspections, with a competent person doing the shift inspection. The overhead crane rules in 1910.179 use frequent (daily to monthly) and periodic (1 to 12 months) inspections. 1910.180 uses an “appointed or authorized person”. The sheet shows each scheme as its own checklist type and does not merge them or choose between them, so check which one applies to your site.

The “Crane: each shift” type lists the visual inspection items of 1926.1412(d), which a competent person begins before each shift. The “Crane: monthly record” type adds the monthly paragraph, 1926.1412(e), under which the shift items are checked for equipment in service that month and the record is kept for at least three months. The annual inspection by a qualified person, 1926.1412(f), is mentioned in the sheet’s text only and is not a checklist here. The “Overhead crane” type follows 1910.179: frequent items, running ropes inspected at least monthly with a certification record, and periodic items.

What does a rigging inspection cover?

A rigging inspection covers slings and their fittings. Under 1910.184(d), a sling and all its fastenings and attachments are inspected before each day’s use. Under 1910.184(c), damaged or defective slings are removed from service immediately. Chain slings also need a thorough periodic inspection at intervals of no more than 12 months, under 1910.184(e)(3), and a record of the most recent month of that inspection. The checks differ by material, so the “Chain and wire slings” type and the “Web, fiber, mesh slings” type each list their own items.

What happens after a defect is found?

Under 1926.1412(d)(2), a deficiency in the shift items is assessed straight away by the competent person to decide whether it is a safety hazard. Equipment with a safety hazard is removed from service until it is corrected. A deficiency in a safety device or operational aid is handled as 1926.1415 and 1926.1416 require before the equipment is used, under 1926.1412(d)(3). The “Add a defect log” section records each defect, where it is on the equipment, who it was reported to, whether it was removed from service, and the date it was corrected.

Sources (checked 15 October 2026): law.cornell.edu · law.cornell.edu · law.cornell.edu · law.cornell.edu

Worked examples

Calculated by the tool above; open it with the same values to see each step.

Frequently asked questions

Is this crane inspection checklist free to use?

Yes. It runs in your browser, needs no sign-up, and nothing you enter is uploaded or stored.

Does the checklist tell me whether a crane passes?

No. The Pass, Fail and N/A boxes are for you to tick. The sheet records what you find and does not decide anything.

Which type should I pick for a rigging inspection?

Pick “Chain and wire slings” for chain and wire rope slings, and “Web, fiber, mesh slings” for web, fiber-rope and mesh slings. Each type lists the items for its material.

Can I save the checklist as a file?

Yes. Use Print / save as PDF to keep a PDF, or “Download as CSV (opens in Excel)” to save the tables as crane-inspection-checklist.csv.

Why does each item show a source in brackets?

Each item names the paragraph it comes from, such as 1910.184(d), or would be marked “general item” if we wrote it ourselves; every item on the current types cites a paragraph. Read the full paragraph before you rely on an item.

Do I still need the maker’s manual?

Yes. The sheet is not a substitute for the maker’s manual, the nameplate, your site’s rules or a qualified or competent person. Check what whoever asks for the record requires.

Related tools

• Equipment Inspection Checklist: use it for inspection records on equipment that is not a crane or sling.
• Forklift Inspection Checklist: use it for a printable check of a forklift before use.
• Forklift Maintenance Checklist: use it to plan and record maintenance tasks for a forklift.
• Machine Guarding Checklist: use it to record the guarding on a machine.
• Equipment Inspection Checklists: use it to see every inspection checklist on this site.
• Crane Signal Chart: use it for a printable chart of hand signals.
• Sling Angle Calculator: use it to work out sling tension from the angle and load you type in.