Educational checklist examples for safety, equipment and operational tasks — what a checklist covers, who uses it and how it connects to forms, inspections and training. Informational only — template examples to adapt, not official documents or legal advice; completing a checklist does not guarantee compliance and employers remain responsible.
What a pressure washer checklist is
A pressure washer checklist is a check made before using a high-pressure washer, focusing on the hoses, couplings and trigger that contain the pressure and the electrical or fuel supply that powers it, because high-pressure water can injure skin and dislodge debris.
This page is an educational overview with a simplified example of what such a checklist usually covers. It is not an official template, not specific to any machine or jurisdiction and not legal advice — the employer decides what the check must include.
Purpose
- Confirm hoses, couplings and the trigger gun are sound and leak-free.
- Check the lance, nozzle and any safety lock are correct and working.
- Confirm the electrical supply or engine and exhaust are safe for the setting.
- Record the check and the PPE and area controls before use.
Who completes it
- The competent user, before use.
- Damaged hoses or couplings stop the work until replaced.
- The employer decides who is competent to use the machine.
- Electrical inspection of mains machines is a separate, competent-person task.
When it is used
- Before each use, especially for hired or shared machines.
- After a hose has been dragged, kinked or stored badly.
- When a leak, pressure loss or unusual noise appears.
- On the frequency the employer sets.
Typical items
- Machine type/ID, user, date and task.
- Hoses, couplings and trigger gun sound, secure and leak-free.
- Lance, nozzle and safety lock correct; pressure relief working.
- Electrical supply/RCD or engine, fuel and exhaust safe for the area; PPE selected.
- Defects found and action taken (e.g. out of use, reported).
- These are example items only — adapt them to the machine and your risk assessment.
Common mistakes
- Using a worn or bulging hose that could burst under pressure.
- Pointing the lance at people, or using it to clean clothing or skin.
- Running a petrol machine in an enclosed space.
- No eye protection or footwear against high-pressure spray and debris.
Document workflow
A pressure washer checklist follows the task risk assessment and is used with the power tool check where electrical supply is involved. A failed check is completed after by taking the machine out of use and reporting it; a high-pressure injury would trigger an incident report and a review of the safe system of work.
See the related documents below for what is commonly completed before, used with and completed after a pressure washer check.
Retention (high level)
Where checks are recorded, employers usually keep them for a period they set, alongside maintenance and electrical inspection records. Specific retention periods vary by jurisdiction and type of work.
This page does not state a required period — confirm retention with the applicable law and the official authority.
Completing and sharing as a PDF
Recorded checks are often stored as PDFs alongside the machine’s records. Exporting to PDF supports the record; it does not make the check official or guarantee compliance.
Employer checklist
- Provide sound machines, hoses and the right PPE for the task.
- Ensure mains machines are electrically inspected and protected.
- Make sure users are competent and the work area is controlled.
- Keep checks and maintenance records together.
Worker notes
- Check hoses, couplings and the trigger lock before use.
- Never point the lance at people or use it on skin or clothing.
- Wear the specified eye and foot protection.
Country considerations
Most countries require employers to provide safe work equipment and to control electrical and high-pressure risks, but the detail, terminology and record-keeping rules differ, and the official authority is different in each. This page is high-level and general — it is not a statement of any country’s law and not a guarantee that a checklist is valid anywhere.
Always confirm the current requirements with the official authority for your country and a qualified professional.
Who is responsible
The employer is responsible for providing safe equipment, controlling the risks and for compliance. This page is an educational overview with a template example; it does not certify a machine, does not replace training and does not transfer responsibility.
Export, edit and share documents
The documents, policies and templates this involves can be exported, edited, signed, stored and shared as PDFs with the HELPERG PDF Editor.
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