Building Checklists: Three Perspectives, One Goal
Most pre-start checklists are built by people who've never operated the machine. The operator, the mechanic, and the business all need different things from the same information.
The Problem
Built by people who've never got dirt on their safety boots.
Most pre-start checklists are built by people who've never even sat in the cab. An admin person gets told "we need a checklist for the roller" and they Google one, or copy last year's, or ask someone who heard something once. The result looks fine in a folder but doesn't match how the work actually happens. The operator doesn't understand why they're checking half of it. The mechanic doesn't get what they need. The business ticks a box but gets no real value.
The Disconnect
Three perspectives that matter.
The operator's perspective: What can I actually see and check while doing my job? I'm not a mechanic. The mechanic's perspective: What do I need to know to prevent small issues becoming major repairs? I don't see the machine every day. The business perspective: What helps us avoid costly breakdowns and safety incidents? Most checklists only think about compliance. 'Did they check the thing?' But did they check it usefully?
The Solution
Balance all three perspectives.
From the mechanic: What matters? Leaks, unusual noises, steering issues, tyre condition, brake performance, fluid levels. From the operator: Can I check these things in my normal routine? Is it organised logically? From the business: Does this catch small issues early? Does it reduce unplanned downtime? When you balance all three, you get a checklist that actually works.
The Insight
Different role, different view. Same data.
The operators see the machine daily. The mechanics service it. The business pays for both. They all need different things from the same information. A leak becoming a major repair. An unsafe condition becoming a serious injury. These can be caught early if the right person checks the right thing — and the information reaches the person who can do something about it.