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Annual Machinery Safety Audit Checklist

A yearly safety audit is a calm walk through your equipment and routines, with a notebook. It finds small problems before they become injuries.

Why do an annual audit?

Machines wear, habits drift and crews change. An audit catches changes you do not notice day to day. Doing it in the off-season gives time to order parts and schedule repairs.

It does not need to be formal. A farmer, a family member and an employee walking the farm together can find a surprising amount.

Write the date on the notes and keep them in a folder. Over several years, the folder becomes a useful history of each machine.

How do you prepare?

Gather the operator manuals, past repair notes, a camera or phone and a notebook. Choose a day with good light and time to look closely. Bring in someone from outside, such as a dealer or an extension specialist, if you want a fresh eye.

Decide how you will record findings and who will fix each item.

Share the plan with the crew so that nobody is surprised. People are more honest about problems when the purpose is clear and nobody is blamed.

• Operator manuals for each machine
• Previous repair and inspection notes
• Notebook, pen and a camera or phone
• Flashlight and clean rags
• A helper to walk the farm with you

What belongs on the machine checklist?

Walk each machine with the manual in hand. Note anything that looks worn, broken or missing, and write it down instead of trusting memory.

Specific ratings and intervals come from the manufacturer, so use their documents.

Take photographs of anything that concerns you, and attach them to your notes. They help when you explain a problem to a dealer or mechanic.

• Seat belts, protective structures and restraints
• Shields, guards and safety signs
• Brakes, steering and tires
• Hydraulic hoses and fittings
• Lights, horns, mirrors and cameras
• Fire extinguishers and first aid kits
• Keys and storage

What about the shop and the farmyard?

Look at the shop for clutter, lighting, ventilation, fire hazards and storage of chemicals and fuel. Check blocks, jacks, stands, extension cords and tools. Review where equipment is parked and where children and visitors walk.

Look at overhead lines, gates, lanes and signage.

Check that fire extinguishers are in place and have been inspected as their label describes, and that exits are clear.

• Lighting, ventilation and clutter in the shop
• Fuel, chemical and battery storage
• Jacks, stands, blocks and cords
• Parking areas and walking routes
• Overhead lines and gates

What about people and training?

List who operates each machine and when they were last trained. Note any gaps. Ask workers what worries them, and listen to near misses. Review emergency contacts, farm address and field names with everyone.

Check youth work rules with the U.S. Department of Labor for any young workers.

Include seasonal workers and family helpers, who may know about hazards that regular staff overlook.

• Who is trained on which machines
• Emergency contact list posted
• Farm address and field names known to all
• Youth work rules checked

How do you act on what you find?

Sort findings by urgency. Anything that could cause serious injury, such as a missing shield, should stop the machine's use until fixed. Assign owners, set dates and follow up. Keep the audit notes and compare them with next year's.

Celebrate progress, and share what you learned with the crew.

If a problem cannot be fixed before the season, plan a safe workaround or arrange another machine. Do not simply hope for the best.

• Remove from service any machine with a missing shield
• Assign each fix to one named person
• Set a date for each repair
• Review progress in a month
• Keep the notes for next year

Where can you get official help?

OSHA's agriculture page, NIOSH, your extension service and your equipment dealer offer checklists and walk-throughs. Requirements vary by state and operation, so confirm with the official body.

Ask a land-grant extension office whether it offers farm safety review services or printed checklists for your type of operation.

Last reviewed: November 12, 2026. Written by the Farm Safety Editorial Team. See our editorial policy.