Construction Checklists

Work more effectively and safely with a construction checklist.

||Construction Checklist Template|Construction Checklist Sample Report||Plantilla de análisis de seguridad laboral (JSA)

What is a Construction Checklist?

A construction checklist is a document used for keeping track of tasks, items, processes, and important information during construction. Construction checklists can help contractors optimize the promotion and improvement of workplace safety for everyone involved in the construction site.

Importance

Having a construction checklist can be very beneficial to your business. Primarily, a construction checklist can help ensure the smooth running of your processes by following all the necessary steps and requirements for a task. In the process, you can also ensure that all safety protocols and necessary government laws are followed, as well as building regulations, codes, and internal quality standards.

These checklists are also excellent tools that can be used in a variety of safety inspections with the intention to:

  • Identify potential risks associated with job tasks
  • Perform regular tools and equipment checks
  • Implement safety measures and protocols for employees to adhere to and comply with to prevent injuries and workplace deaths

Uses and Types of Construction Checklists

You can use a construction checklist in any part of your construction project. The construction process involves many people, departments, and steps, so having a checklist for each aspect of it can help streamline processes and create a more efficient work environment.

The use case for construction checklists can be classified into the following types: 

  • Meetings and discussions: Construction projects often require many meetings, and it is common to have a checklist for each one to ensure that all important topics are covered and that all questions are answered.
  • Site inspections: A major part of any construction project is inspecting the site where it will happen. It is important to have a checklist for this to keep track of your findings, manage issues, and comply with your client’s needs and legal requirements. 
  • Quality control: In all stages of construction, quality control and assurance will always come up. Quality checkers and project heads can benefit from having a construction checklist to help improve quality control and assurance practices, as well as empower their staff to also identify points for improvement.
  • Equipment management: Construction managers often use a specific equipment checklist for their projects to ensure their effectiveness, safety, and usability for a task.
  • General record management: While each part of the construction phase may already have its own checklist, some managers create larger, more general checklists to view all tasks, issues, and processes at a glance. 

How Do You Create A General Checklist For A Construction Project?

To create a checklist for your general construction needs and record management, consider the following:

  • Purpose of the project: What is the project about? 
  • Client’s needs: What is the client looking for?
  • Feasibility: Do the client’s needs and the company’s budget and resources align?
  • Safety: How can we ensure the safety of everyone in the project while achieving quality results?

During each phase of the construction process, you should revisit your general construction checklist regularly. Ideally, your construction checklist should be discussed in every phase as part of your toolbox talk. This makes it easier to ensure everyone knows their responsibilities and duties, as well as set expectations for the day or project ahead. 

Construction Checklist Sample Report

Construction Checklist Sample Report | SafetyCulture

It would also be more beneficial to you and your workflows to use a digital checklist to create your general construction checklist. A digital checklist works the same way pen-and-paper checklists do but is easier to store and access when on the go. Digital checklist apps also provide more functionality to your checklists, allowing you to not only keep track of tasks and processes but also:

  • Attach photos and notes
  • Identify problems 
  • Address issues 
  • Share your checklists

FAQs about Construction Checklists

The process of construction can be divided into three phases:

  • Preconstruction: the planning stage
  • Construction: the actual construction stage 
  • Post-construction: the quality-checking stage

A construction checklist can be used by anyone in a construction project. However, it is essential for the following people to have their own checklists:

  • General contractors
  • Project managers
  • Carpenters
  • Painters
  • Sign installers
  • Accountants or audit managers

For a more streamlined and effective workflow, it would be best to have a checklist on every step of the project. Having a checklist can help improve your work process and make sure you are compliant with all laws, the client’s requests, the project budget, and quality standards. 

Jona Tarlengco
Article by

Jona Tarlengco

SafetyCulture Content Specialist
Jona Tarlengco is a content writer and researcher for SafetyCulture since 2018. She usually writes about safety and quality topics, contributing to the creation of well-researched articles. Her years of experience in one of the world’s leading business news organisations helps enrich the quality of the information in her work.

Explore more templates

Preconstruction Meeting Checklist
This preconstruction meeting checklist can be used for all your meetings before the construction phase itself. Use this checklist to address certain topics to be discussed per meeting and list down the names of those in the core team for future discussions.
Post-construction Quality Checklist
Use this post-construction checklist to ensure all construction tasks are done and comply with quality standards. Identify issues on your site and list them down here for future reference to address them immediately.
New Equipment Safety Inspection Checklist
Ensure your new equipment is working properly with this checklist. Look out for any issues before use and note them to decide whether or not to continue using your equipment or if there should be any returns or repairs to be done.
Site Hazard Inspection Report Template
This checklist is to help site inspectors observe and record site hazards. They can use this template to take notes and photos of potential worksite hazard and easily assign corrective actions immediately while conducting their inspections.
Electrical Safety Inspection Checklist
Use this template to assess the compliance of electrical safety measures for a given worksite. Inspectors and project managers can use this as they do a site walkthrough and inspect the electrical tools and equipment being used (e.g., switches, power lines, appliances, installations, wiring, cables, and cords).