Facility Inspection Checklist

Efficiency is paramount in a logistics facility. Unless everything is in its proper place and ready for use, the knock-on effect can be devastating to both your production and delivery.

That’s why we here at Process Street created this facility inspection checklist.

By running this checklist once a month before your employees start work, you can make sure that the entire facility is prepared for them to start their tasks as soon as they clock in.

Whether there’s an obstruction in your warehouse which would delay your order fulfillment process or a lack of sufficient office supplies to complete your daily paperwork, this checklist will guide you through every step you need to take to make sure that everything’s ready to go.

Let’s get started.

First up in the facility inspection checklist you need to record your details. The best way to do this is by using the form fields below.

This will let anybody looking back through previous inspections see who carried them out at a glance.

Now you need to record the details of the inspection itself. Information such as the date this was carried out and the location being examined will make your records clear as crystal for anyone who needs to review the inspections later.

Record these details using the form fields below.

Kicking off the actual checks in this facility inspection checklist, you need to check for any damaged surfaces. For now don’t worry about checking individual items (racks, forklifts, etc), but instead focus on the building and location itself.

Work through the sub-checklist and form fields below to check every and record what you find.

Next you need to make a sweep of the building(s) and check that there are no obstructions that will get in your employees’ way. Corridors should be clear, desks and work areas tidy, and all vehicles parked in the proper locations.

Again, follow the sub-checklist below and fill in the form fields in order to note down what you find.

Now it’s time to check that the location’s hygiene is acceptable. Having a little mess or dirt is inevitable in any logistics facility (or really any work location), but here you’re keeping an eye out for anything that could pose a health risk.

Trash needs to be thrown away, garbage bins and skips should be emptied, bathrooms cleaned, spills mopped up, and so on and so forth.

Record your progress using the sub-checklist below and your findings using the form fields.

In order for your workforce to start work straight away, the facility’s lighting needs to be functioning. So, now you need to check that all lights work and that there are spare bulbs in case anything breaks.

Much like the last few steps in this factory inspection checklist, work through the sub-checklist below to cover the basics. After that, record what you find in the form fields at the bottom of this task.

Fire safety is vital in any location – warehouses are no exception. Hence why it’s time to check the fire extinguishers across the warehouse.

Check both the location of available fire extinguishers and the time they were last inspected. Record what you find in the form fields below.

You also need to check that the warehouse is well ventilated to combat the general dust and fumes that accompany the equipment being used and the jobs being performed.

While this will usually involve a dedicated ventilation system, in small scale operations it might be possible to ventilate an area by just opening windows.

Record your findings using the form fields below.

Pallets are vital for effectively storing items, and so without them the only potential outcome of this facility inspection checklist is failure. So, it’s now time to check both that your facility has plenty of spare pallets for incoming stock, and that those pallets are in good working order.

The number of pallets required will vary based on the size of your operation, but in general take the amount of stock you process each month and subtract the number of pallets you throw in the trash.

As always, record your findings using the form fields below.

Now you need to check that the reception area has sufficient office supplies. This usually means just checking that there is enough stationary for the receptionist and any potential customers to use.

Use the sub-checklist below to check the basic supplies, and then note your findings using the form fields.

Next you need to make sure that any water cooler has plenty of water left in it. If the cooler is running low, make arrangements to refill or replace the reservoir.

Make any notes you have in the form fields below.

Just as with the cooler, now it’s time to check that any vending machines in the reception area are fully stocked. As with the cooler, if they aren’t then you need to make arrangements to refill them.

These checks should include both food and drinks vending machines (from coke to hot coffee).

Again, use the form fields below to note what you find.

Finally, you need to make sure that any phone lines in the reception area are in working order. Just lift up the receiver and listen for dial tone.

Record what you find using the form fields below.

Moving on to the office spaces in your building, you need to check that these are also sufficiently stocked with work supplies.

As with reception, follow the sub-checklist and form fields below to conduct a thorough facility inspection.

Water cooler chat is perhaps just as vital to your employee’s productivity as the water itself, so making sure that any cooler you have is stocked is a must.

Again, if the cooler is running low then you need to make arrangements for it to be filled up or to have the reservoir replaced (depending on the type of cooler).

Use the form fields below to note your findings.

Offices (or at least presentation rooms) are probably going to have one or two whiteboards in them, so it’s important to make sure that they’re both clean and have the right tools to use them on hand. This will let your workforce get straight to the point when they return to work, rather than having to waste time searching for a pen or eraser.

Make sure that everything’s clean, that whiteboard pens and erasers are to hand, and that the whiteboard(s) are free from damage. Use the form fields below to record what you find.

Finally, you need to make sure that all computers in the office are working. You don’t need to log onto every single one however – as long as they turn on you can be fairly certain they will function correctly.

Use the form fields below to note down your findings.

The first thing you need to do in the bathrooms is to make sure that the supply of toiletries is sufficient. This means checking cubicles for toilet roll, making sure soap dispensers still have soap in them, and so on.

Record your findings using the form fields below.

Next up in the facility inspection checklist you need to make sure that everything in the bathroom works correctly. This means checking that the toilets flush, the soap dispensers dispense, the hand dryers dry, and the mirrors aren’t cracked to the point of uselessness.

In short, just make sure that everything is in working order, then fill out the form fields below.

Next up you need to move to the kitchen (if your facility has one) to check the supplies in there. Usually this just means checking that there’s plenty of mugs, plates, tea bags, coffee, sugar, milk, and so on.

Obviously this will change a little based on your facilities (eg, having a canteen will mean far more thorough checks of hygiene and food stocks), but work through the sub-checklist and form fields below to get a rough idea.

Whether you have a kettle, sink, microwave, or full-on stove, you need to check that the kitchen equipment all works correctly. Go through each device and make sure that they turn on, start to heat up, and so on.

Use the form fields below to note what you find.

Moving on to the safety checks you need to make in specific areas of the warehouse, you need to check that all aisles are marked with some kind of identification. Record what you find using the form fields below.

In general, be on the lookout for the coding system that your company specifically uses. If an aisle isn’t marked (or is marked incorrectly) this could lead to confusion with where to store certain goods. This in itself could lead to a safety hazard.

There’s no point in having an aisle to access storage racks if it’s not wide enough to let a forklift through. Hence why you now need to make sure that all aisles are wide enough to allow access to the relevant personnel and machinery.

Not all aisles have to be the same size (some may not need forklift access, and so can be thinner), but all need to give access to those who need it. Record what you find using the form fields below.

Storage racks are especially important to inspect for damage, since these are what you’ll be using to store most of your stock. As such, you now need to check for any distortions in the racks, along with any cracks or obvious missing pieces and rust.

Record what you find using the form fields below.

Now it’s time to check that the items being stored in the racks are done so safely. This means you need to check whether the stacking method for items is consistent, and that each rack isn’t overburdened (both in terms of the items’ size and weight).

Check the load limit of the storage rack in question, then combine that with a visual examination and record what you find in the form field below.

Next up in this factory inspection checklist you need to make sure that both your vehicle inspection checklist and forklift inspection checklist are being run regularly.

You don’t need to actually inspect the machines yourself (that’s what the other processes are for), but instead make sure that those checklists are being run and completed at the times they are intended to be.

Record your findings using the form fields below.

Now you need to inspect the loading dock doors to make sure that they work correctly. Just test the doors to see if they work as intended, then record your findings in the form field below.

Vehicle inspections are all well and good, but if the machines in question aren’t fueled up then your employees aren’t going anywhere. Hence why you now need to check that all vehicles have a reasonable amount of fuel in them.

If any are running low, you or someone else needs to refill them as soon as possible.

Make notes of whatever you find using the form fields below.

Beyond fueling, all vehicles will also need keys to start them up. As such, you need to make sure that the keys for every vehicle are stored safely in the correct location.

Fill out the form fields below and note any that you can’t find.

Moving on to the workstations section of the facility inspection checklist, you now need to examine the various pieces of safety equipment. This is both to make sure that there are enough of each item to go around, and that they are in decent condition.

Work through the sub-checklist below to cover the basics, but remember that you can edit this to your needs if there are any other items to check. Then, use the form fields at the end of this task to record what you find.

Next up it’s time to check that all regular tools are accounted for. After all, there’s little point in your employees showing up if they don’t have the equipment available to do their job.

Use the sub-checklist below to make sure that your basic required tools are both present and in good condition. Record your verdict and comments on the state of the equipment in the form fields below that.

Congratulations – you’ve finished the factory inspection checklist!

Round things off by giving your final pass/fail verdict, along with any final comments to pass on.

• Pacific Employers – Safety Compliance Checklist
• Occupations Safety and Health Administration – Worker Safety Series: Warehousing
• IWLA – Monthly Workplace Safety and Health Self-Inspection: Warehouses
• McCue – General Warehouse Safety Checklist
• Legacy Supply Chain Services – Warehouse Safety Checklist: 8 Things Every Manager Should Review

• Forklift inspection checklist
• Inventory management process
• ISO container inspection checklist
• Order fulfillment
• Order processing checklist
• Vehicle inspection checklist
• Warehouse safety checklist