Do Automotive Lifts Need to be Inspected?

Automotive lifts are ideal for servicing or repairing vehicles, making it easier to see underneath cars and repair or replace parts. However, lifts can break down over time, making them less efficient and creating a safety hazard for lift operators. It's essential to schedule regular lift inspections and perform maintenance to prevent unnecessary damage and ensure your lift is working as it should.

Below, you'll learn more about the requirements for lift inspections, when you need to schedule inspections and tips to improve the safety of your lift so you can pass the inspection every time.

Requirements for Auto Lift Inspections

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has no federal requirements for automotive lift inspection requirements. However, the National Technology Transfer and Advancement Act, which was signed into law in 1996, allows government organizations like OSHA to utilize nationally recognized standards to meet the requirements of their safety mission. These standards can help reduce the risk of potential infractions under OSHA's existing regulations.

OSHA often uses American National Standard for Automotive Lifts Safety Requirements for Operation, Inspection and Maintenance (ANSI/ALI ALOIM) standards, which govern the automotive lift inspection and maintenance requirements within the United States. These standards are updated regularly to ensure the safety of workers or individuals using automotive lifts and typically include the following:

• Lift inspection procedures
• Lift inspection timelines performed by a qualified professional
• Lift inspection points
• Qualifications for lift inspectors
• Lift owner responsibilities regarding inspections

OSHA will also use the General Duty Clause if they need to issue citations or request abatement for automotive lifts when inspectors observe a lack of training and maintenance or if an accident involving the lift occurs.

How Often Should Your Lift Be Inspected?

A qualified lift inspector should inspect your car lift at least once a year. However, you may want to have your automotive lift checked more frequently if the manufacturer requires it or the operating authority, such as insurance providers, corporate health and safety or workers' compensation trusts.

Inspecting lifts improves lift operator safety, reducing the risk of accidents involving the lift. Inspections also ensure that the lift and controls are operating smoothly. These inspections give people peace of mind that their cars are safe from accidental damage from a lift and help reassure operators that they're safe. Inspections also help keep your lift durable for longer, allowing you to catch problems before they become significant issues so you can perform maintenance or repairs.

Tips to Pass an Auto Lift Inspection

Passing an automotive lift inspection requires optimizing the lift's safety, which helps protect lift operators and the machine. Some safety tips to help keep your automotive lift in the best condition include:

1. Buy Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) Certified Lifts

The ALI is one of the resources OSHA uses to cite lift owners, so buying an ALI-certified lift can make it easier to pass inspection. Purchasing these lifts helps give your peace of mind knowing they were designed correctly by a knowledgeable engineering staff, backing up the strength factors. Certified lifts must meet strict standards, with rigorous testing of each component.

Buying a certified lift makes it easier to start from the right place and pass an inspection. While you'll have to implement additional strategies to keep your auto lift safe, a certified lift is a good jumping point since it's equipped with quality components with proper protection.

2. Find Qualified Inspectors

To improve the safety of your auto lift and ensure you're getting the most from your inspection, it's essential to find a qualified inspector. These professionals specialize in automatic lifts, giving them the knowledge and expertise to inspect your lift correctly. Many qualified inspectors will also provide a label with a serial number, date and signature to show when your lift was last inspected and by who.

You can rest assured that qualified inspectors know what they're doing since they have to pass written tests, have a written quality system and meet practical experience testing requirements. Qualified inspectors also have to sign a code of ethics that shows they take responsibility for the lift's safety and that it's safe for continued use after the inspection.

3. Train Lift Operators

Thoroughly training your lift operators helps improve their safety and reduces the risk of injury. Training should include lift maintenance, lifting types, lowering processes and vehicle lifting. You can also find training courses online to help train operators, which provides them with interactive scenarios. At the end of the course, you'll take a test and receive a certification you can display if you pass.

4. Create a Maintenance Program and Keep Documentation

It's essential to keep written documentation of all the maintenance performed on the lift to ensure it continues to operate for years to come. Many manufacturers have a user guide that lists the recommended maintenance schedule to ensure your lift works safely and reliably.

You should create a maintenance program to ensure you're keeping up with the care requirements of your auto lift. As you perform maintenance, you'll want to record what you did, like if you replaced anything or found any problems, so you know what to do the next time you perform maintenance. Regular maintenance also helps prevent unnecessary damage to your lift, helping sustain its life span.

5. Examine the Lift Daily

On top of regular maintenance, you'll also want to examine the lift daily to check for irregularities that could become significant problems down the line. Issues you should check for each day include leaks, cracks, corrosion, low fluid levels or any unusual noises. If you don't perform daily checks, maintenance can become more challenging. Daily checks should only take a few minutes each day and can go a long way in improving the safety of your lift.

6. Enhance Visibility

Another way to improve the safety of your lift is by improving the visibility underneath. You can install a remote-controlled light to make it easier to enhance the visibility under the lift, making it easier for operators to see what they're doing or spot safety hazards before they become an issue.

Find High-Quality Auto Lifts at North American Auto Equipment

North American Auto Equipment has you covered if you need an auto lift for your business or personal use. Our auto lifts for homes and car garages are perfect for running an automotive repair shop or lifting your personal vehicle. We can help you find a high-quality product to meet your needs and budget. Our team will help answer your questions, using their knowledge and expertise to give you the most educated answer.

We offer various auto lifts, including four-post, alignment, low-rise and scissor lifts. Each lift has unique features for different applications, so we'll help you find the best one. Contact us today to learn more about our products and how we can help!