Hazards involving automotive lifts

In several incidents around British Columbia, an automotive lift failed while in use. The lifts were of different makes:

• A Ford-Smith 15,000-lb capacity dual-post automotive lift, Above Floor Lift Model TEC-15, became detached from the floor and collapsed while lifting a truck. The manufacturer, Ford-Smith Machine Company, had previously gone into bankruptcy. Several months before this incident, the court-appointed receiver had sent an "Urgent Safety Alert Notice" to all known customers, describing serious structural deficiencies and asking them to take three lift models (TEC-15, TEC-18, and BJ-6001) out of service immediately.
• A horizontal stabilizer bar on a newly purchased 6,000-lb capacity battery-powered portable automotive lift failed during the hoisting of a 3,542-lb vehicle. Fortunately, the vehicle did not fall.
• While being serviced, an extended-cab pickup truck slipped from the support arms of an 8,000-lb capacity dual-post automotive lift. The truck fell at a 45° angle so that the driver's side tires were on the floor. Several factors contributed to this incident. The mechanic had not properly positioned the lifting pads of the rear support arms under the safe lifting points on the truck, so the truck was not securely supported. There were no locking pins to keep the support arms from swinging once the truck began to slip. In addition, the lift had not been properly maintained: the lift cables had not been adjusted to keep all four lifting arms level.
• A mechanic was working under a pick-up truck raised on a 9,000-lb capacity dual-post automotive lift. The vehicle shifted and the hoist anchor bolts at both posts failed. The vehicle and lift fell over, striking the mechanic on the shoulder and knocking him to the floor under the vehicle and lift.

Although there were no fatalities, these incidents highlight the importance of proper design, installation, operation, maintenance, repair, and certification of automotive lifts. The requirements are specified in Part 12 (sections 12.74 to 12.80) of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation.

Design

Section 12.74 states that all automotive lifts must meet ANSI Standard ANSI/ALI B153.1-1990, American National Standard for Automotive Lifts — Safety Requirements for the Construction, Care, and Use. Lifts that comply with or conform to this standard will have a compliance label from the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI). If your automotive lift does not have such a sticker, obtain written confirmation that it conforms to the standard from the manufacturer or from a professional engineer. The following wording affirms conformity to the standard:

• This automotive lift was manufactured to conform to the requirements of ANSI/ALI B153.1, a safety standard developed cooperatively with the industry and those substantially concerned with its scope and provisions. The manufacturer is responsible for the construction of this product to this standard.

Installation

Section 12.75 states that automotive lifts must be assembled and installed by qualified personnel. Under section 4.3, the installation must be done according to the manufacturer's instructions. If instructions are unavailable (as may be the case with lifts purchased at auctions), the installation should be done following the direction of a manufacturer's representative or a professional engineer.

Operation

Section 12.76 states that operation, inspection, repair, maintenance, and modification of a vehicle support or lift must be carried out according to the manufacturer's instructions or the written instructions of a professional engineer.

Operators require training that follows the manufacturer's operating instructions. The employer or a qualified training agency can conduct the training. When no operating instructions for the lift are available, a manufacturer's representative can conduct the training. Alternatively, the employer can contact an independent engineer to provide the operating instructions if they aren't available from the manufacturer. Guidance for operator training and qualifications is provided in the ANSI Standard ANSI/ALI ALOIM-2000, American National Standard for Automotive Lifts — Safety Requirements for Operation, Inspection and Maintenance.

Operators should also be aware of the vehicle lifting points for the type of lift they are using. Lifting points should be identified in the vehicle owner's manual. They may also be found in the ALI publication Quick Reference Guide: Vehicle Lifting Points for Frame Engaging Lifts (Domestic and Imported Cars and Light Trucks).

Maintenance and repair

Automotive lifts must be maintained by a manufacturer's representative or someone who is qualified to perform this work. ANSI Standard ANSI/ALI ALOIM-2000, American National Standard for Automotive Lifts — Safety Requirements for Operation, Inspection and Maintenance provides guidance to the owner or employer in determining who is "qualified" (typically an automotive lift inspection and repair firm).

Operators can be trained to perform routine maintenance by a manufacturer's representative or qualified automotive lift maintenance technician. Section 12.78 of the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation states that automotive lifts must be inspected and tested monthly unless the manufacturer requires more frequent inspection and testing. Routine maintenance must be carried out as specified in the manufacturer's manual or by a professional engineer. Maintenance and inspection records must be maintained for each lift (section 12.77).

Automotive lifts must be repaired according to the manufacturer's instructions or the written instructions of a professional engineer (section 12.76). Repairs should be performed by someone who can act on behalf of the manufacturer. For example:

Recertification of automotive lifts

In some cases, an automotive lift owner may want to retrofit the lift and have it recertified as meeting different criteria. The manufacturer's representative or a professional engineer must certify that the modified lift meets ANSI Standard ANSI/ALI B153.1-1990, American National Standard for Automotive Lifts — Safety Requirements for the Construction, Care, and Use, in accordance with section 12.74. The new rated capacity must also be certified and must not be exceeded (section 12.79).