Inspection Documentation, Record-Keeping, and Inspector Obligations
An inspector's obligations extend beyond the physical inspection to accurate documentation and record-keeping. You must understand what must be recorded: the inspection outcome, defects identified, repairs required, and the certification decision. Records must be accurate, legible, and traceable to the vehicle and the inspector. Falsifying or omitting records is a serious breach of professional obligation.
Key concepts include the inspector's duty of honesty and independence - you must not certify a vehicle you have not inspected, and you must not be influenced by pressure from the operator. Traps include questions that imply 'signing off' a vehicle based on another person's assurance, or back-dating records. Both are prohibited. Another trap is incomplete defect descriptions: a vague note like 'brakes poor' is inadequate; record the specific component and defect.
Rule of thumb: if it is not written down accurately, it did not happen. Worked example: if you find a cracked chassis rail, record the exact location and nature of the defect, the fail decision, and the requirement for repair and re-inspection - not simply 'chassis fault'. Accurate records protect the public and the inspector.