GUEST EDITORIAL
Consider the
lift’s feature set. Lift Safety
Starts With You
Equipment choice plays a role
Much of the familiar advice about lift safety
focuses on what lift operators should do to keep
themselves safe on the job. Th is includes:
Inspecting the lift daily.
Lowering the lift to its mechanical load-holding
devices (locks) before going under the
vehicle.
Keeping the area around the lift clear when
lift ing or lowering.
Never blocking open the lift controls.
Not overloading the lift .
But while proper operation is important, lift
safety starts well before the technician steps
into the bay. Lift selection can have a signifi -
cant impact on bay safety.
Selection
Whether buying a light duty two-post lift
to service cars and light trucks, or a mobile
column lift for heavy duty vehicles, always
choose an ALI (Automotive Lift Institute)-
50 Fleet Maintenance | AUGUST 2017
certified lift. Lifts that wear the gold
ALI-certifi ed label have been third-party
tested and certifi ed to meet national safety
and performance standards. Even though the
International Building Code and state/local
regulations in all 50 states require certifi ed
lift s, the responsibility for buying and installing
certifi ed lift s lies with the customer.
It is legal to sell non-certifi ed lift s in the U.S.
Don’t just assume that a lift is safe. Do your
homework. ALI maintains a database of certifi
ed lift s on its website at www.autolift .org.
Another important consideration is making
sure the lift you select can properly handle the
vehicles your shop will be servicing. In addition
to suffi cient rated load capacity, this can
mean making sure a frame-engaging lift can
reach the manufacturer’s recommended lift ing
points on vehicles, that the runways are long
enough and wide enough on platform lift s, or
that the lift can pick up any tandem-axle vehicles.
Set your technicians up for success with
equipment that can do the job.
Beyond the Basics
Next, examine each lift ’s feature set. Basic
features to look for include hold-to-run
controls, emergency stop buttons, automatic
synchronization, lockable disconnect switches
and lower-to-lock controls.
For four-post and other platform lift s,
features like automatic wheel chocks,
non-skid ramp and runway surfaces, and
work steps can be important. On a two-post
lift , swing arm restraints, overhead shutoff
bars and wheel spotting dishes, or laser spotting
systems are key. Heavy duty inground
lift s should be equipped with a system to keep
fl oor openings covered.
Some of the latest safety-enhancing technology
for heavy duty applications can be
found on mobile column lift s. Rotary Lift ’s
new Mach Flex powered by RedFire mobile
column lift s, for example, are the fi rst in the
industry to be operated entirely by remote
control, according to the company. Th is gives
the technician the freedom to move around
the vehicle while lift ing to check clearances
and stay alert to any issues that might not be
visible from a single column.
Th e Mach Flex is also the fi rst lift to have
Rotary’s LockLight system built right in. It
shows technicians, shop managers and anyone
else in the shop, at a glance, if the lift is resting
on its locks.
Lift Accessories
Accessories can make a good lift even better,
and in some cases, safer. When ordering a lift ,
it’s a good idea to also order all the necessary
adapters to properly pick up vehicles. For example,
you might need stacking adapters to reach
the manufacturer-recommended lift ing points
on a truck using a two-post lift .
Keep in mind, not all adapters are created
equal. Some manufacturers’ adapters are much
lighter and easier to use than others, which can
be an important ergonomic consideration in
keeping technicians safe on the job.
Periodically review to make sure the proper
adapters are available for all the lift s in the
shop. Review your lift s and adapters any time
you make a change in fl eet makeup, as what
worked for one vehicle may not necessarily work
for another. Never make or modify adapters.
Another worthwhile accessory is the support
stand. Th ese should be used to provide additional
support under a vehicle any time a load
may shift , such as when vehicle components
are removed. Make sure there are suffi cient
quantities of support stands in working order
in the shop.
Did you know that lift accessories are also
subject to ALI certifi cation? According to the
ANSI (American National Standards Institute)
standard for lift operation, inspection and
maintenance, accessories should be certifi ed
at the same time as the lift itself. ALI’s certifi ed
lift directory includes listings of all accessories
certifi ed for each lift .
Shop safety is everyone’s responsibility. With
some research upfront, you can set the foundation
for a safe shop when choosing your next
lift or updating the accessories you have now.
By Doug Spiller
HEAVY DUTY PRODUCT MANAGER, ROTARY LIFT
The company (www.rotarylift.com) is North America’s largest
and oldest lift manufacturer. It offers a very broad line
of lifts and wheel service equipment in North America.
» Key considerations when
acquiring a vehicle lift include
ALI certification, making
sure the lift can properly
handle the vehicles to be
serviced, safety-enhancing
technology and accessories.
Photo courtesy of Rotary Lift