What's actually required
Employers are expected to ensure aerial lifts are inspected before each use by the person operating them that day — not a general weekly maintenance check, but a specific pre-use inspection tied to that operator, that day, that machine. This applies regardless of how routine the task is; a lift used every day still needs a fresh check every day.
What a compliant record includes
- Operator name and signature
- Date and time of inspection — before use, not after
- Specific equipment identified — make, model, unit or serial number
- Inspection type (pre-use, monthly, annual)
- Results across all inspection categories — base/chassis, boom/platform/controls, safety systems
- Any deficiencies noted, with the equipment removed from service if a critical item fails
A generic "inspected — OK" note with no detail behind it doesn't demonstrate the inspection actually happened item by item.
What auditors look for
The same pattern that shows up in FLHA audits applies here: auditors want to see that the process is actually being followed consistently, by the people actually operating the equipment, not completed after the fact by a supervisor trying to catch up on paperwork. Consistent daily records across your full equipment fleet — not sporadic entries that appear right before an audit — are what demonstrate a real safety system rather than one built for show.
GPS and timestamp verification
A digital inspection record that captures GPS coordinates and an exact timestamp at submission proves the inspection happened at the site, with that equipment, at that time — something a paper form or a verbal confirmation can't provide. In an incident investigation, that verification matters far more than it seems like it should until the day it's actually needed.