The Definition of Automotive Lift Safety

Definition of Automotive Lift Safety

Automotive lift safety is the set of practices that keep vehicle lifts working as designed and protect the people who raise vehicles and work underneath them.

A vehicle lift holds thousands of pounds of steel overhead. If a vehicle slips off its lifting points, a lift fails, or a lift comes down without warning, the result is often a fatal crush injury. Many lift incidents start with simple mistakes: arms set on the wrong points, a vehicle that shifts when a heavy part is removed, or a worker who goes underneath before the locks are engaged.

Lift safety applies in auto repair shops, dealerships, tire and quick-lube centers, fleet maintenance garages, municipal vehicle shops, and schools that train technicians. It covers technicians, shop supervisors, owners and the inspectors and service companies that install and maintain lifts.

How Automotive Lift Safety Works

Types of Vehicle Lifts

• Two-post lifts: Swing arms reach under the vehicle frame. They give good access to wheels and the underside but depend on correct arm placement.
• Four-post lifts: The vehicle drives onto runways. They are common for alignments, oil changes and storage.
• Scissor lifts: Low-rise and mid-rise units that raise the vehicle on a folding frame. Often used in tire shops and body shops.
• In-ground lifts: Pistons below the floor raise the vehicle. Older units can leak hydraulic fluid into the ground.
• Mobile column lifts: Portable columns placed at each wheel, used for heavy trucks and buses.

Main Hazards

• Vehicle falls: A vehicle slides off the lift because of poor arm placement, a shift in center of gravity, or exceeding rated capacity.
• Uncontrolled descent: The lift lowers because of a hydraulic, cable or lock failure, or because someone lowers it with a person underneath.
• Struck-by and crush injuries: Workers are hit by swinging arms, falling parts or the vehicle itself. See struck-by hazards and caught-in or between hazards.
• Pinch points: Hands and feet can be trapped in moving lift parts.

Layers of Protection

• Design and certification: Lifts built and tested to a recognized standard.
• Correct installation: Proper anchoring, concrete and setup by qualified installers.
• Inspection and maintenance: Daily operator checks, periodic in-house inspections and an annual inspection by a qualified lift inspector.
• Trained operators: Only trained and authorized people may use the lift.

Regulations and Standards

OSHA

OSHA has no standard written specifically for automotive lifts. OSHA can cite employers under the General Duty Clause when a recognized hazard exists, and it looks to recognized industry standards and the manufacturer's instructions to decide what is reasonable. Other OSHA rules, such as those for lockout/tagout during lift repairs, may also apply.

ANSI/ALI ALOIM:2020

ANSI/ALI ALOIM:2020 is the American National Standard for automotive lifts covering safety requirements for operation, inspection and maintenance. It requires every lift to be inspected at least annually by a qualified lift inspector. It also calls for daily checks by the operator and periodic in-house inspections according to the manufacturer's instructions.

ANSI/ALI ALCTV and ANSI/ALI ALIS

ANSI/ALI ALCTV covers the construction, testing and validation of automotive lifts. Lifts that are third-party tested to ALCTV can carry the ALI certification label. ANSI/ALI ALIS covers installation and service. Check the current editions for details.

ALI Lift Inspector Certification Program

The Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) runs a Lift Inspector Certification Program. It trains and certifies inspectors who can perform the annual inspections called for in ALOIM.

Good Practices for Automotive Lift Safety

• Buy certified lifts: Choose lifts that carry the ALI certification label and have them installed by qualified technicians.
• Train and authorize operators: Only trained, authorized people should operate a lift. Training should cover the specific lift models in the shop.
• Use the right lifting points: Follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommended lifting points. Raise the vehicle a few inches, then check that it is stable before going higher.
• Watch the center of gravity: Removing heavy parts such as engines, transmissions or rear axles shifts the vehicle's balance. Use tall or supplemental stands to support it.
• Respect capacity and locks: Never exceed the lift's rated capacity. Engage the mechanical locks before working underneath, and never let anyone stay in the vehicle while it is being raised.
• Inspect every day and every year: Do daily operator checks, periodic in-house inspections and an annual inspection by a qualified lift inspector. Digital tools like SafetyIQ asset and equipment inspection software can schedule and record these checks.
• Remove defective lifts from service: Tag and lock out any lift with damaged cables, leaks, failed locks or other faults as defective equipment until repaired.

Example of Automotive Lift Safety

A municipal fleet garage had a near miss on a two-post lift. A technician removed the rear axle assembly from a pickup truck. With the weight gone from the back, the truck tipped forward on the lift arms. It came to rest against a stand that another technician had placed by chance. No one was under the vehicle at the time.

The garage investigated and found that technicians had not been trained on center of gravity changes, and the shop had only one tall stand. Supervisors added center of gravity checks to the lift procedure and bought supplemental stands for every bay. All technicians took refresher training on lifting points and lock use. The garage also set up a preventive maintenance schedule and a contract for annual inspections by a certified lift inspector, with daily operator checklists in each bay.

Frequently Asked Questions: Automotive Lift Safety

How often do automotive lifts need to be inspected?

ANSI/ALI ALOIM:2020 requires every lift to be inspected at least annually by a qualified lift inspector. Operators should also check the lift daily, and the shop should do periodic in-house inspections per the manufacturer's instructions.

Does OSHA have a standard for vehicle lifts?

No. OSHA has no lift-specific standard. It can cite employers under the General Duty Clause and refers to recognized standards such as the ANSI/ALI series and the manufacturer's instructions.

What does the ALI certification label mean?

The ALI certification label shows that the lift model was tested to ANSI/ALI ALCTV, the standard for construction, testing and validation. It helps buyers confirm that a lift meets a recognized safety standard.

Why do vehicles fall off lifts?

Common causes include using the wrong lifting points, exceeding the lift's capacity, and a shift in the vehicle's center of gravity when heavy parts are removed. Failing to engage mechanical locks and skipping inspections also contribute to lift incidents.