Vehicle Lift Safety

1. Vehicle Lift Safety Operator’s Instruction, Inspection & Maintenance

2. Why we need Lift Safety • To prevent injury and death • Because it’s the law • Majority of accidents are operator error • To get respect and maintain respect for the lift • Accidents are becoming more common • YOU HAVE A FEW THOUSAND LBS OVER YOUR HEAD

3. Surface Mount 2 Post 4 Post Parallelogram Scissor Mid-rise Mobile Column In ground Single Post with swing arms Dual Post with swing arms Fore and Aft Single-double-triple Adjustable Posts Types of Lifts

5. Lift Descriptions-2 Post Lifts • Most popular • Inexpensive • Easy access to removable parts on vehicles

6. 2 Post Lift Types • Cable Equalized • Hydraulic Equalized • Chain Equalized • Lift Cable (One Cylinder) • Mechanical (Screw Type) • Overhead Beam • Base Plate Bump-over

7. Cables / chain are attached from the top of one carriage to the bottom of the other Properly adjusted: the cables / chain, force the lift to raise and lower equally even if the weight differs from side to side Many moving parts High Maintenance design Most popular 2 post design Animation courtesy of Girolift USA www.girolift.net Cable / chain equalized

8. Fluid on top side of main ram flows to offside ram in a closed hydraulic system (blue) Power unit pumps oil into the bottom of main side cylinder Rams are different in size and mathematically designed to distribute the exact amount of fluid to raise both sides equally Low maintenance design Very few moving parts Animation courtesy of Girolift USA www.girolift.net Hydraulic Synchronized

9. Symmetric Lifts Symmetric • Posts are parallel • Arms are usually the same length • Car’s centre of gravity is positioned approximately at midpoint of the lift

10. Asymmetric Asymmetric • Posts are tilted approximately 30degrees for easier access to car doors • Short arms in the front • Car’s center of gravity is positioned further rear

11. Safety Features of 2 Posts • Owner’s Manual • ALI Literature, Lifting point guide, ANSI/ALI ALOIM Current Standard, Lifting it Right • Locking Latches • Arm Restraints • Overhead Limit Switch • Emergency Electrical Shut-off • Pressure Relief Valve • Hydraulic Fuse

12. Should be present when lift is delivered Has manufacturer contact information Has proper maintenance procedures Shows parts list and operation procedures To be READ! from cover to cover Any question you have with the content of the manual or the lift can be answered by the manufacturer. Owners Manual

13. WHAT IS A.L.I. • The Automotive Lift Institute, Inc. • ALI’s mission is to promote the safe design, construction, installation, service, and use of automotive lifts. • ALI has set the standard for automotive lift manufacturers • ALI certifies the construction of lifts • The only specialized organization of its kind • For more info Visit www.autolift.org

14. Certified Automotive Lift ETL Listed Conforms to ANSI/UL Standards 3rd Party Tested Manufacturer is a ALI Member The ALI Gold Label

15. ANSI/ALI ALOIM (current) The standard for Automotive lifts Safety requirements For The Operation, Inspection And Maintenance ALI Literature

16. Vehicle Lifting Points (Current) Quick Reference Guide Too be used to look up proper lifting points for frame engaging lifts ALI Literature

17. Lifting It Right A Safety manual from the Automotive Lift Institute Describes types of lifts Properly spotting a vehicle Safety procedures ALI Literature

18. Automotive Lift Safety Tips Placard To be posted on every lift where the operator can see them. Generic list of safety tips for use with all Automotive lifts ALI Literature

19. Safety Decal Used to illustrate hazards To be placed in a spot where it is visible to the operator ALI Literature

20. Description of Safety Features for 2 Post Lifts Locking Latches • A mechanical device that latches the lifting carriage to the post by using a spring loaded locking dog and locking ladder • A Load holding device • Not a back-up in case of failure To be used EVERY time the hoist goes up

21. Description of Safety Features for 2 Post Lifts Arm Restraints: (Not A Arm Lock) • Designed to hold the arm in place before it makes contact with the vehicle (not to hold the arm out when the vehicle’s weight is on it). • An Arm Restraints job is over when the lift makes contact with the vehicle

22. Description of Safety Features for 2 Post Lifts Overhead Limit Switch Will shut the hoist off when the roof of the vehicle makes contact with it. • Do not rely on it to determine when to stop or use as an automatic stop

23. Description of Safety Features for 2 Post Lifts Emergency Electrical Shut-off / Disconnect • Should be a twist plug connection or switch / breaker within reach of the operator

24. Description of Safety Features for 2 Post Lifts Pressure Relief Valve • Located within the power unit • Factory set to bypass when you over exceed the lift’s weight limit • Not to be relied on as a capacity gage A Power unit is NOT a load holding device. A power unit it used to raise the lift. The locking latches are used to load hold.

25. Description of Safety Features for 2 Post Lifts Hydraulic Fuse • Normally located at the base of the cylinder • Designed to lock out it’s device when there is a sudden spike in pressure

27. Lift Descriptions-4 Post: • Runways (no arms) • Can be equipped with rolling jacks • Used mainly for Alignments, Undercoating, & Oil Changes

28. Types of 4 Post Lifts • Chain Lift • Cable Lift • Fully Hydraulic

29. Safety Features of 4 Posts • Owner’s Manual • ALI Literature • Primary Locking Latches • Secondary Locking Latches • Wheel chocks • Emergency Electrical Shut-Off • Pressure Relief Valve • Hydraulic Fuse

30. Description of Safety Features for 4 Posts Primary Locking Latches • Usually one on each post • Normally single point release (air activated) • Not to be used every time the hoist goes up

31. Description of Safety Features for 4 Posts Secondary Locking Latches • Equipped on most 4 posts • Will engage if chain or cable becomes slack Wheel chocks • to prevent vehicle rolling. To be used in sets of two every time a vehicle is placed on a lift using runways

32. Description of Safety Features for 4 Posts Emergency Electrical Shut-Off Pressure Relief Valve & Hydraulic Fuse • Same descriptions as for the 2 Post

33. Description of Safety Features for 4 Post Lifts Emergency Electrical Shut-off / Disconnect • Should be a twist plug connection or switch / breaker within reach of the operator

34. Description of Safety Features for 4 Post Lifts Pressure Relief Valve • Located within the power unit • Factory set to bypass when you over exceed the lift’s weight limit • Not to be relied on as a capacity gauge • Is the power unit on your lift its original?

35. Description of Safety Features for 4 Post Lifts Hydraulic Fuse • Normally located at the base of the cylinder • Designed to lock out it’s device when there is a sudden spike in pressure

37. Lift Descriptions-Scissor Lifts, Parallelogram, & Mid-Rise: • Low maintenance • Good for heavy lifting • Used for alignments, lube rack, undercoating • Can be equipped with rolling jacks • Usually has one cylinder on each side

38. Lift Descriptions-Scissor Lifts, Parallelogram, & Mid-Rise: • Scissor lift lifts straight • Parallelogram lifts up but also moves back or forward a couple of feet

39. Safety Features of Scissor Lifts, Parallelogram, & Mid-Rise: • Locking Latches located on the floor with a foot pedal release and / or air/electrical operated lock release • Hydraulic Fuses • Equalized hydraulically / electronically or fastened together

40. Mobile Column Lift

41. Lift Descriptions-Mobile Column or Wheel-Engaging: • Used for heavy lifting • Can be used in sets of 2,4,6 and on • Mechanical screw types • Fully hydraulic • Usually equalized (visually) by the operator

42. Lift Descriptions-In-Ground: • Used for heavy lifting • No obstructions • Cleaner shop • Low maintenance

43. Safety Features of In-Ground • Newer models have locks and non-rotates • Locking Latches, manual pin, air/electric/ manual operated locks, inner safety leg-locking dog • Most swing arm models do not have arm restraints

44. Properly Lifting A Vehicle

45. Center of gravity • Every vehicle has a different centre of gravity • Ex.. rear wheel drive vehicles are heavier in the rear this differs the centre of gravity from a front wheel drive vehicle • Rear wheel drive vehicles centre of gravity is usually spotted under the drivers seat where as a front wheel drive vehicles centre of gravity is usually spotted under the steering wheel • The vehicles center of gravity is ALWAYS to be spotted midway between the front and rear arms on a two post lift.

46. The center of gravity of a vehicle with the engine in the rear is totally different from a vehicle with its engine in the front Always check the trunk of a car or the back of a truck or van for a load This Lotus Elise flipped when the tech removed its front wheel Center Of Gravity

47. 2 Post Operation • Inspect your lift • Make sure bay is free of debris, tools • Ensure that arms of lift are out of the way • Check vehicle’s weight with hoist capacity • Look-up vehicle’s lifting points • If all above is good, drive car into bay

48. 2 Post Operation con’t • Check lifting points to make sure vehicle is in good enough condition to be lifted • Position all 4 arms on manufacturer’s lifting points. Use adapters if applicable. • Raise lift until pads are 1-2” from vehicle • Re-check lifting points • Lift vehicle until tires are aprox 1’ off the ground • Re-check lifting points • Go to back of vehicle and shake moderately

49. 2 Post Operation con’t • Re-check lifting points • Raise vehicle to desired working height • Lower to Locking Latches (use stands if possible) • Perform work • If you need to do any heavy pulling, hammering, or prying, or if you are removing or installing a major component of the vehicle, use appropriately rated jack stands.

50. Jack stands / Supports • To be used in sets of four whenever possible • Make sure stands have a high enough capacity rating • DO NOT LOWER VEHICLE TO STANDS • Always heighten the stands to height of vehicle that is currently on the primary safety latches.