Asset Inspection Apps: Checklists With Audit Trails for Cranes, Utilities, Pipelines and More

Whatever the asset, the questions after an incident or audit are the same: was it inspected, by whom, what was found, and was it fixed? This guide covers what to look for in an inspection checklist app for asset-heavy work, including offline use, electronic signatures, audit trails and multi-site use, and what to check on common assets. Inspections. Actions. Evidence.

What to look for in an asset inspection app

DIGI CLIP doesn’t include an asset register. Record the asset ID, plant number or site on each form so its inspection history can be found and exported. For a broader comparison of tools, see our inspection checklist app guide.

Cranes and lifting equipment

Crane inspections range from the operator’s pre-start to periodic inspections by a competent person. The AS 2550 series covers the safe use of cranes, hoists and winches, and some cranes must be registered as items of plant with your WHS regulator. Common pre-start and routine checks include:

• wire ropes, hooks, safety latches and sheaves
• limit switches, load moment indicators and alarms
• outriggers, pads and ground conditions
• hydraulics, leaks and structural damage
• load charts, signage and the operator’s log

A crane inspection app should capture the operator’s electronic signature, work offline on site, and stop a failed item being lost before the next lift.

Substations and transformers

Routine visual inspections by authorised personnel help catch deterioration between planned maintenance. Typical items include:

• security fencing, locks, gates and warning signs
• oil levels, leaks and the condition of bunding
• breathers, bushings, insulators and connections
• earthing, cable terminations and signs of overheating
• vegetation, vermin and water ingress

Because substation sites are often remote and access-controlled, offline completion and time and location stamps matter. See also our electrical safety inspection guide.

Cathodic protection

Cathodic protection systems protect pipelines, tanks and other buried or submerged structures from corrosion. The AS 2832 series covers cathodic protection of metals. Routine field checks commonly record:

• transformer-rectifier output readings
• structure-to-soil potential readings at test points
• the condition of test points, cables and anode beds
• damage, interference or third-party works near the asset

Numeric readings, photos and a signature on each record build the history engineers need to spot trends. Readings outside your criteria can be followed up as actions.

Stormwater assets

Stormwater inspections help prevent flooding and pollution, and are often required by council or environmental permit conditions. Typical checks cover:

• pits, grates and inlets for blockages and damage
• gross pollutant traps and oil separators, including when they were last cleaned
• outlets, swales and basins for erosion and sediment
• spill kits and signage near drains
• inspections after significant rain events

See our guide to environmental compliance inspections.

Drilling rigs

Drilling contractors, whether in mineral exploration, water bores or geotechnical work, face moving machinery, high-pressure hydraulics, dust, noise and remote sites. Common checks include:

• rig pre-starts, including guarding on rotating equipment and emergency stops
• hydraulic hoses, fittings and whip checks
• rod handling equipment and lifting gear
• ground conditions, site set-up and exclusion zones
• dust and noise controls, and personal protective equipment

See our heavy equipment inspection app for support vehicles and mobile plant.

HVAC systems

HVAC technicians and facility managers record both maintenance and site safety. Worksite reports often cover:

• safe roof access, fall protection and isolation before work
• filters, coils, belts, drains and condensate
• refrigerant handling, which in Australia requires the right licence
• cooling tower and water system maintenance, commonly in line with AS/NZS 3666
• photos of the finished work and the customer’s sign-off

Other asset guides

• Heavy equipment inspection app
• Truck pre-start checklist app
• Forklift pre-start checks
• Electrical safety inspections
• Fire safety inspection checklists
• Cold storage and warehousing

Setting up asset inspections

1. List your asset types. Group assets that share the same inspection checklist.
2. Build each checklist. Use the relevant standards, manufacturer’s instructions and your own incident history.
3. Add an asset ID field. Record the asset number or site on every form so its history can be found.
4. Set follow-up rules. Decide which answers create actions and who receives them.
5. Schedule recurring checks. Set reminders for routine and periodic inspections.
6. Review the records. Look for repeat faults, overdue actions and missed inspections.

Asset inspections with DIGI CLIP

With DIGI CLIP, field teams complete asset inspections on iOS and Android phones and tablets, with photos and digital signatures. Each form is location- and time-stamped. A “No”, “Not OK” or “At Risk” answer creates an action in the Action Log, which is tracked to close-out with evidence, and overdue actions trigger escalation emails. Billing is monthly with no minimum users, and incidents and hazards can be managed in Safety Tracker.

Illustrative scenario: a reading out of range

A technician completes a cathodic protection survey along a rural pipeline in DIGI CLIP, without mobile coverage. At one test point, the potential reading is outside the company’s criteria, so the answer is marked “Not OK” with a photo of the test point. Back in range, the technician submits the survey with a tap, the action goes to the corrosion engineer, and it’s closed out after the rectifier is adjusted and a follow-up reading is recorded.

This scenario is illustrative. It shows how a business could use DIGI CLIP and is not an account of a specific customer.