Auto lifts are very safe machines when used correctly. However, there is a potential for danger if they are not used correctly. To ensure both you and your employees are safe when using an auto lift, you should follow the established safety protocol. This article lays out the common safety rules for using an auto lift. Read on to learn more about safely using an auto lift.

Inspect Your Lift Daily

One of the most important things you can do to ensure safe auto lift operation is to inspect your lift daily. While this may seem a little excessive at first, it is important to note that your auto lift’s parts can break or go out of alignment without you noticing. Thoroughly inspecting the auto lift every day ensures that it will be safe to use for the next day of work.

Make Repairs Promptly

If one of the parts on your auto lift breaks or wears out, it is important to make repairs promptly. Putting off repair or replacement can not only keep the lift from working as it should, but it may also create a dangerous work environment. Even if it seems like a minor repair, you should take care of the problem before using the lift again.

Don’t Override or Block Open Controls

Auto lifts generally have self-closing lift controls. This functionality ensures that the auto lift can be operated safely. However, some people are in the habit of overriding or blocking open controls. This may seem like a more convenient way to use the lift, but it is unsafe. It is important to never override or block open the controls of your auto lift.

Never Use the Lift with People Inside the Car

This tip may seem like a no-brainer, but every year people become injured because they were in a car that was being lifted and an accident happened. Using the lift when there are people inside the car is dangerous for multiple reasons.

Firstly, if a person is inside the car when it is being lifted, the vehicle’s center of gravity will be altered. This makes the vehicle unstable on the lift. Secondly, anybody inside a car that has been lifted risks falling off the lift and injuring themselves if they try to get down before the car has been lowered. Keep your team safe during work and always adhere to this rule.

Keep the Lift Area Clean & Clear of Debris

It is important to always keep the lift area clean and clear of debris. If someone slips and bumps into the auto lift, this could be dangerous. Of course, it is likely that a quality auto lift would hold a vehicle securely enough so that bumping into the lift will not cause any harm. Still, it is important to keep the lift area (and the rest of your work area) free from debris and residue to prevent avoidable accidents.

Be Careful to Avoid Hitting the Adaptors, Axle Supports, & Lift Arms

When positioning the vehicle on the lift, it is important to avoid hitting the adaptors, axle supports, and lift arms. If you hit the lift, this could damage the components. Even if the impact does not actually damage the components, it could knock them out of alignment, potentially preventing the lift from working properly or creating a safety hazard in the future.

Position Lift Supports According to the Vehicle Manufacturer’s Specifications

Every vehicle has different specifications for the placement of the lift supports. It can be easy to assume that all vehicles have the same specifications when it comes to positioning the lift supports, but this assumption can lead to an unsafe work environment, unsteady vehicles, and potentially deadly accidents.

In January of 2020, a Hartford, Connecticut mechanic was mortally injured when a vehicle fell of a lift and onto him due to poor vehicle-lift positioning. Even if it seems like a pain, it is important to check the manufacturer’s specifications for each vehicle you place on the lift in order to avoid any and all safety issues.

Remove Materials Before Lowering the Lift

While the vehicle is up on the lift, there will inevitably be tools, parts, and more items under the vehicle. It can be easy to forget something when you go to lower the vehicle back down. This is why you should always double-check to ensure that nothing remains under the vehicle before you lower it. Failing to do so can result in both damaged vehicles and broken equipment. 

Contact SVI International, Inc. for High-Quality Lift Parts

If you need high-quality lift parts, SVI International, Inc. is here for you. We make a wide selection of parts for most of the auto lift models on the market. We also make parts for auto lifts that are no longer available from the manufacturers.

You can contact us through our website to learn more about our services and the parts we offer. One of our knowledgeable associates will contact you promptly to give you the information you need about our parts and services. Contact us today for all of your auto lift part needs.