Every elevating work platform in service needs a formal annual inspection — but many owners are not sure what the inspector actually does during the visit, or what the resulting paperwork proves. Understanding the process helps you prepare the machine, set the right expectations, and know what to do if something is found. This guide walks through the scope of a typical annual EWP inspection from arrival to sign-off.
What the annual inspection is for
The annual periodic inspection sits in the middle of the compliance regime under AS 2550.10 — deeper than the operator's pre-start check and the three-monthly routine service, but shallower than the major inspection that falls due against the machine's age. Its purpose is to confirm, once a year, that the machine is still fit to operate: that its structure, hydraulics, safety systems and electrical components have not deteriorated to a point where using it creates risk.
The inspection is carried out by a competent person — someone with the relevant technical knowledge and experience to assess an elevating work platform against the applicable standard. It is not a service: the inspector's job is to assess and document condition, not to replace wear items or recalibrate components during the same visit.
What the inspector examines
A well-conducted annual inspection covers the machine systematically rather than spot-checking. The inspector works through the structure, systems, and safety devices, recording the condition of each area as they go.
The scope typically includes:
- Structural members — booms, mast, chassis, turntable and basket frame examined for visible cracks, deformation, corrosion or weld damage.
- Pins, bushes and bearings — checked for wear, security and correct lubrication.
- Hydraulic system — cylinders, hoses, fittings and valves assessed for leaks, chafing and correct operation.
- Electrical system — wiring, connectors, controls and interlocks checked for integrity and correct function.
- Safety devices — emergency lowering, secondary guarding, limit switches, overload protection and anti-two-block systems tested to confirm they operate as designed.
- Ground and platform controls — both sets of controls operated to confirm they respond correctly and that each overrides the other as intended.
- Logbook and documentation — the machine's inspection history, service records and any defect notices are reviewed.
What happens when a defect is found
Finding something during an annual inspection is not a failure — it is the system working. Minor defects are noted in the report and scheduled for repair, often without the machine being grounded immediately. Defects that affect safety will result in the machine being taken out of service until repairs are completed and verified.
The inspector issues a written report documenting every finding. If a defect notice is issued, it stays part of the machine's record. The repair and its sign-off are then recorded against the same defect, so the logbook tells the complete story from finding through resolution.
The documentation that follows
The annual inspection produces more than a verbal verdict. A formal written report is issued that records the date, the inspector's details, every item examined, and the outcome for each. This report is entered into the machine's logbook and retained as permanent documentation of the machine's compliance history.
On a site audit, the logbook and its inspection reports are the primary evidence that a machine has been maintained in compliance. A machine that has been serviced but lacks an up-to-date annual inspection record is non-compliant on paper regardless of its mechanical condition.
How the annual inspection relates to other checks
The annual inspection does not replace the three-monthly routine service, and it does not reset or defer the major inspection that falls due based on the machine's age and class — 5 years for some equipment classes, 10 years for others under the applicable standard. Each check in the regime runs on its own schedule and answers a different question: the routine service keeps the machine mechanically sound, the annual inspection confirms it is safe to operate this year, and the major inspection re-verifies whether the machine's structure is sound enough to keep working for years ahead.
Owners should track all three schedules independently. For a compliant machine, no single inspection substitutes for another.
This guide is general information prepared by EWP Australia and is grounded in publicly available Australian Standards and Safe Work Australia material. It is not a substitute for the current published edition of the relevant standard or for site-specific engineering advice. Always work from the current standard and consult a competent person for your specific equipment and application.