CERTIFICATION & INSTALLATION
by the lift manufacturer and experience in
lift operation and installation.
Th e installer should also be familiar
with the appropriate federal regulations
governing workplace safety, specifi cally
the requirements for walking-working
surfaces, hazardous materials, personal
protective equipment, general environmental
controls, compressed gas and
compressed air equipment and machinery/
machine guarding.
Find a qualifi ed lift installer or confi rm
an installer’s qualifi cations by contacting
the lift manufacturer.
Th e fi nal authority in all matters
regarding lift installation is the lift
manufacturer’s instructions.
10 | Vehicle Lift Guide | SEPTEMBER 2017
3. Train lift operators
Only people who have been properly
trained should operate a vehicle lift . Make
sure every technician in your shop has
been trained on the safe use and operation
of each lift they will operate.
Training should be based on the lift
manufacturer-provided instructions and
warning labels, as well as the ALI publications
Vehicle Lift ing Points for Frame-Engaging
Lift s, Lift ing It Right, Safety Tips
and the ANSI/ALI ALOIM (current edition),
Standard for Automotive Lift s Safety
Requirements for Operation, Inspection
and Maintenance.
Document this training. You may
be asked to show this documentation
at a future health and safety or
insurance inspection.
A convenient resource for general vehicle
lift safety training is ALI’s Lift ing It
Right online training course, which has
been completely updated for 2017. Th is interactive
training course covers lift types,
proper lift operation and maintenance. At
the conclusion of the course, the technician
takes an online test.
A certifi cate of completion is generated
and stored online for those who pass the
test. Th is gives you peace of mind that if a
safety inspector visits your service department,
you can quickly and easily produce
documentation that your technicians have
been trained.
Know, too, that part of your lift operators’
responsibilities are to examine each
lift they operate on a daily basis. Th e items
to be examined are described in the ANSI/
ALI ALOIM (current edition) standard
and in the lift manufacturer’s lift -specifi c
instructions.
Copies of all ALI training materials are
available from ALI member companies,
ALI Certifi ed Lift Inspectors and online
at www.autolift .org/ali-store/.
4. Schedule annual
lift inspections
Every vehicle lift must be inspected at
least annually by a qualifi ed lift inspector,
and more frequently if required by the lift
manufacturer or local regulations. Th is
requirement can be found in ANSI/ALI
ALOIM (current edition).
Th e easiest way to make sure you hire a
qualifi ed lift inspector is to choose an ALI
Certifi ed Lift Inspector. Th ese individuals
have been tested and found qualifi ed to
inspect any vehicle lift .
To achieve certifi cation, lift inspectors
must pass two written exams, complete
extensive documented practical experience
and agree to abide by the program’s
code of ethics. Th e inspector’s employer
also must meet quality requirements and
sign an additional code of ethics.
A searchable online directory of ALI
Certifi ed Lift Inspectors is available at
www.autolift.org/find-a-certifiedauto
lift -inspector/.
ALI Certifi ed Lift Inspectors examining
a lift to the requirements of ALI’s
program follow standardized inspection
procedures for every lift , regardless of age,
origin or manufacturer. Th ey assess the
lift , bay and shop, and provide written reports
with any repair recommendations
aft er the inspection.
Th e Certifi ed Lift Inspector applies
a serialized, dated and signed (with the
inspector’s unique ID number) label to
Every vehicle lift must be
inspected at least annually by
a qualified lift inspector. The
easiest way to make sure you
hire a qualified lift inspector is
to choose an ALI Certified
Lift Inspector.
Photo courtesy of ALI