Equipment checks for construction
Daily equipment inspections for construction, on every machine's own QR code.
CheckBadges gives every excavator, loader, telehandler, lift and site vehicle a QR sticker. Operators, subcontractors included, scan it with their own phone and do that machine's daily check in the browser, with no app or login. A defect emails you photos immediately and warns the next operator until it's fixed, and every check is filed by machine with who did it and when.
What pre-use checks have to handle
Machines on three sites by Wednesday
Equipment moves between jobs. The sticker goes with the machine, so every check lands in that machine's history wherever it was done.
Rented and owned, side by side
The rental company inspects its machines, but the daily check is still your operator's job. Put a sticker on for the rental and archive the machine when it goes back.
Subcontractors on your machines
A sub's operator won't install your app. They scan the sticker and type their name, or use a PIN you give them.
Lifts that need checking every day
Boom lift controls must be tested each day before use (1926.453(b)(2)(i)), and many scissor lifts fall under the scaffold rule's before-each-shift inspection.
Defects found at 6 a.m., heard about at noon
A problem emails you and the superintendent with photos the moment it's submitted, not when the clipboard gets back to the trailer.
Keeping unsafe machines parked
Unsafe equipment must be tagged, locked out or removed (1926.20(b)(3)). The sticker warns every operator who scans it until you mark it fixed.
How construction crews do daily equipment checks with QR codes
Every machine gets a QR sticker inside the cab door or on the control box, and the operator scans it before the first start of the shift. The phone opens that machine's checklist: a walkaround, the hour meter, and function checks. A problem needs a note and can carry up to three photos.
A morning on a contractor's two sites, 25 machines between them:
| Time | What happens |
|---|---|
| 6:15 a.m. | At the north site, the excavator operator scans the sticker and walks the machine: tracks, hydraulic hoses, bucket pins, seat belt, travel alarm. |
| 6:20 a.m. | A framing sub's crew scans the rented scissor lift. Nobody has an account; they type their names. |
| 6:24 a.m. | On the telehandler, the operator marks the backup alarm as a Problem and photographs a cut wire. You and the site superintendent get an email. |
| 6:30 a.m. | The superintendent tags the telehandler out and calls the mechanic. It shows red on the dashboard. |
| 7:00 a.m. | You check the dashboard from the south site: which machines have been checked today, and which haven't. |
| 1:30 p.m. | The wire is repaired, the mechanic's note goes in with "mark fixed", and the warning clears. |
Which OSHA rules apply to construction equipment checks
No single OSHA rule covers every machine on a site. The daily check comes from several construction standards plus each machine's operator's manual:
| Equipment | Rule | What it says |
|---|---|---|
| Site vehicles on an off-highway jobsite | 1926.601(b)(14) | Checked at the beginning of each shift: brakes, tires, horn, steering, coupling devices, seat belts, operating controls and safety devices. Defects corrected before use. |
| Earthmoving equipment and forklifts | 1926.602 | Seat belts, brakes, ROPS and backup alarms. No each-shift check in the text, so the manufacturer's daily checks set it. |
| Boom lifts | 1926.453(b)(2)(i) | "Lift controls shall be tested each day prior to use." |
| Scissor lifts and scaffolds | 1926.451(f)(3) | Inspected for visible defects by a competent person before each work shift. |
| Cranes | 1926.1412 | A competent person's visual inspection each shift; monthly inspections documented and kept three months. |
OSHA says "many scissor lifts are covered under OSHA's Scaffolding standard," which is why the scaffold rule's competent person inspection applies to them. On top of the rules, the ANSI A92 standards, as summarized by manufacturers and SAIA, call for an operator's pre-start inspection before each shift's use of a MEWP. And under 1926.20(b)(3), equipment that isn't in compliance must be "identified as unsafe by tagging or locking the controls," or physically removed.
This is a summary, not legal advice; check the current text. The machine-by-machine detail is in heavy equipment inspection requirements.
Rentals, subs and machines that move between sites
Rented machines need the same daily check as your own. The rental company's frequent and annual inspections don't replace your operator's pre-shift check. Stick a QR code on when the machine arrives, or zip-tie a laminated tag if the rental house prefers, and archive the machine when it goes back. Archived machines don't count toward your plan.
Subcontractors' operators need no account. They scan and type their name, or you can turn on operator PINs and give each one a PIN, so every check is signed by a known person.
CheckBadges doesn't use GPS, so it doesn't know which site a check came from. If that matters, add a dropdown to the checklist ("Which site?") and every check records it.
What you get
- Instant problem emails to everyone on your alert list, with the operator's note and photos.
- A warning for the next operator who scans that machine, until you mark it fixed with a note.
- Today's checks at a glance: which machines have been checked today and which have open problems.
- A history for every machine, filterable by machine, problems and dates, with any check printable and everything exportable as CSV.
What it costs
CheckBadges is free for up to 3 machines. Pro is $9 a month for your first 3 machines, plus $1.50 a month for each machine after that, so a contractor with 25 machines pays $42 a month, and 60 machines is $94.50 a month. Operators and subs are unlimited, and there's no contract or setup fee.
When CheckBadges isn't the right fit
CheckBadges needs a cell signal or Wi-Fi to open and submit a check, so a remote site with no coverage won't work unless operators check machines where there's signal. It has no telematics, so engine hours, fuel burn and machine location still come from the OEM's portal. It doesn't schedule services, raise work orders or track which machine is on which job. If you need those, look at the tools in the best construction equipment inspection apps.
Free checklists for construction
Print them, or put each one on a QR sticker so operators fill it in on their phone.
- Free checklistHeavy equipment inspection checklistFree daily heavy equipment inspection checklist for any construction machine: walkaround, fluids, cab and function tests, plus machine-specific checklists.
- Free checklistExcavator inspection checklistFree excavator daily inspection checklist: undercarriage, boom and bucket, quick coupler, fluids and cab checks, in walkaround order. Print it or use QR codes.
- Free checklistSkid steer inspection checklistFree skid steer and compact track loader daily inspection checklist: lift arm support, seat bar interlock, quick-attach wedges, tires or tracks and fluids.
- Free checklistTelehandler inspection checklistFree telehandler pre-use inspection checklist: boom and wear pads, forks and attachments, load chart, frame leveling, stabilizers, steering modes and tires.
- Free checklistScissor lift inspection checklistFree scissor lift pre-use inspection checklist: guardrails, gate, controls, emergency stop and lowering, pothole guards, tilt alarm and tires. Print or use QR.
- Free checklistBoom lift inspection checklistFree boom lift pre-start inspection checklist for articulating and telescopic booms: boom, jib, turntable, platform, anchors, controls and emergency lowering.
Set it up in three steps
- 01
Add your machines
Name your business, list your machines and pick a starting checklist. No signup, sales call or card — make an account once you like it.
- 02
Stick on their QR codes
Every machine gets its own sticker. Print them on label paper and put each one where operators look before they start.
- 03
Operators scan and check
Phone camera, tap, answer, submit: about a minute. A problem emails you and warns the next person to scan that machine.
Frequently asked questions
Does OSHA require daily inspections of heavy equipment?
For site vehicles, yes: 29 CFR 1926.601(b)(14) requires a check at the beginning of each shift. The earthmoving rule, 1926.602, has no each-shift check in its text, so the manufacturer's daily checks set what to look at. Boom lift controls must be tested each day before use (1926.453(b)(2)(i)).
Who has to inspect a scissor lift on a construction site?
OSHA treats many scissor lifts as scaffolds, and 1926.451(f)(3) requires a competent person to inspect scaffolds for visible defects before each work shift. In practice the operator also does the manufacturer's pre-start inspection before using it.
Do I have to inspect rented construction equipment?
Yes. The rental company's periodic inspections don't replace the daily or pre-shift check your operators must do before using the machine. Treat a rental like your own machine for as long as it's on your site.
Can subcontractors use our equipment checklists without an account?
Yes. They scan the machine's QR sticker with their own phone and type their name. If you turn on operator PINs, give each sub's operator a PIN so their checks are signed with their name.
Do daily construction equipment inspections have to be written down?
Mostly not. The each-shift crane inspection under 1926.1412(d) doesn't need documenting, though the monthly and annual crane inspections do. For other machines a dated record isn't required by the text, but it's how you show the check was done.
Keep reading
- Heavy equipment inspection appA heavy equipment inspection app for daily walkarounds: operators scan the QR sticker on an excavator, loader or dozer and check on their phone. No app or login.
- Heavy equipment inspection rulesOSHA has no single heavy equipment inspection schedule. Jobsite vehicles are checked each shift, unsafe machines tagged out, and the manual sets daily checks.
- The best construction equipment inspection apps in 2026The best construction equipment inspection apps of 2026: daily checks on loaders, lifts and excavators, whether crews need an app, and what each costs a month.
- MEWP inspection requirementsMEWPs need an operator pre-start check each shift, a frequent inspection every 3 months or 150 hours, and an annual one. ANSI A92 and OSHA rules explained.
- Aerial lift inspection appAn aerial lift inspection app for MEWP pre-start checks: scan the QR sticker on a scissor or boom lift and check on any phone, no app or login. Defects email you.
- What is a competent person?OSHA defines a competent person as one who can spot hazards and has authority to fix them. Compare competent, qualified and authorized, and who inspects what.
Check your yellow iron with one scan.
Stick a QR code on every machine and operators do the pre-use check on their own phone — no app, no login. Free for up to 3 machines; try it with your real machines before you sign up.