Guides
Jobsite inspection report as PDF
By Claude Piché, founder · Updated September 18, 2026
A PDF report shares what was seen, who owns the fix, and by when. It is not a certification and it is not proof that the site complies.
What the report is for — and is not
On a Québec jobsite, the inspection report is a follow-up tool: date, zone, machine or task, findings, photos, owner of the fix. It helps supervision, the safety rep, and the principal contractor close actions. It does not replace the prevention program or the CSTC / RSST.
OK Sécurité timestamps completions and exports a PDF. A generated file does not, by itself, establish that the site meets the law.
What to capture so the PDF is usable
Record location, date, who inspected, equipment or zone, and a complete finding (“backup alarm silent”, not “check later”). Add a photo when it shows the defect. Name a due date and an owner.
For a machine, start from a daily list (excavator, aerial lift, forklift, tower crane) instead of a blank page.
Export, file, follow up
Export the PDF the same day and send it to people who can fix the issue. Keep history as an internal diligence file, not an official stamp.
Chase open findings. A report without follow-up is paperwork.
Link the report to the rule, not the other way around
If a finding hits a legal threshold (guardrails, shoring, silica, MEWP), point to the regulation sheet and the official text. The checklist is what to verify now; the sheet is which article applies.
This guide is an aid for Québec construction SMEs. OK Sécurité is not certified by the CNESST. A PDF report does not prove compliance: confirm with your prevention program and the CSTC / RSST. For information only — this is not legal advice. OK Sécurité is an independent company with no affiliation to the CNESST: we are not mandated, endorsed or certified by it. Where there is any discrepancy, the official text published by Légis Québec or the CNESST prevails.
Sources
Informational only. Confirm obligations with your prevention program and:
- CNESST — Mesures spécifiques pour les chantiers de construction
- Safety Code for the construction industry (CSTC) and Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST)
Official rules (French)
Related checklists
Daily lists to attach to the report:
Common questions
- Does the OK Sécurité PDF replace a legal register?
- No. Example: the tower-crane log (CSTC 2.15.7.4 / schedule 10) and the SAAQ circle check stay separate registers. The PDF records your walk-around.
- Do we need a photo on every item?
- No. A photo helps when it shows the defect and context. A precise sentence plus an owner is often enough.
- Who should receive the report?
- People who can fix it: foreman, operator, safety rep, principal contractor by topic. Send it quickly, not at contract close-out.
- Does a signed report mean the site complies?
- No. Recording an inspection supports due diligence. It is not a compliance certificate, and the CNESST does not certify it.