Auto Lift Safety
Many different automotive repair procedures require the technician to work under a vehicle, which makes lifting a vehicle safely a serious concern. If the vehicle has been raised over 6 feet off of the ground so the technician can stand and work, the potential for serious injury is very great if the vehicle slips off the lift. Auto repair technicians must be aware of and use all applicable safety procedures when lifting a vehicle.
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Capacity
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The first safety issue to address when using an auto lift is to select a unit with sufficient weight capacity for the vehicle that you will be working under. The weight capacity the lift is certified for can be found on a placard attached to the frame of the lift, along with instructions on how to safely use the lift. If you use a lift with insufficient weight capacity for the vehicle you will be working under, you will endanger yourself and the people working in close proximity to you. Safety placards and warnings on the lift should comply with standards established by The Automotive Lift Institute, ALI.
Vehicle Position
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After you have situated the vehicle on the lift, the next step is to position the lifting arms under the vehicle. Most lifts have a metal plate on the shop floor that indicates where the left front tire should be when you stop the vehicle. If the tire plate is not present, then you will have to adjust the vehicle location until the lift arms and pads will reach lifting points on the vehicle frame that you have selected to use. In some cases, you may need to use auxiliary adaptors provided by the lift manufacturer to reach safe vehicle lifting points.
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Lifting the Vehicle
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As you lift the vehicle, listen for any sounds that indicate the load is shifting or sliding off the lift pads. When the vehicle is about 2 feet off the ground, stop lifting the vehicle and gently rock the car to insure that it is sitting securely on the lift pads and arms. When you are satisfied that the vehicle is secure on the lift pads, continue lifting to the desired height. After the vehicle is raised up in the air, a good practice is to look at each lift point and ensure for yourself visually that the vehicle is setting securely on each lift pad. Make sure that safety locks have properly engaged as the vehicle is being raised.
Working Safely
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When you are working under a vehicle that is being supported over your head, remember that a certain element of risk is always present. If you are using another type of equipment to remove and reinstall heavy components such as a fuel tank, be sure not to contact the vehicle body in a manner that lifts the vehicle off of the vehicle lift. Another dangerous practice would be to climb up and enter the bed of a pickup supported on a lift. The additional weight of your body climbing into the bed of the vehicle could change the balance enough to cause the vehicle to slip and fall to the floor.
Lowering the Vehicle
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Before lowering the vehicle to the ground, or lowering it for access to the passenger or engine compartment, ensure there is no other equipment that will be in the way of the vehicle coming down. Make sure your feet and hands are clear of all moving parts. If you have removed components that will allow the vehicle to roll when the lift pads are free of the vehicle, you must place wheel chocks around either the two front or two rear tires to keep the vehicle from moving and causing damage or personal injury to you or a co-worker.
Lift Maintenance
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Proper maintenance of vehicle lifting equipment is essential to ensuring that technicians have a safe environment to work in. Technicians should ensure that daily inspections and lubrication of the lift being used are being accomplished. If an inspection of a lift reveals that it is unsafe to use, proper procedures must be followed to tag the lift as unsafe, and to report the defective lift to management for repair. After repairs have been accomplished, proper procedures must be followed to place the lift back in service. Lockout and Tagout standards are found in OSHA Standard 1910.47.
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