Safety is never optional in any workshop environment—it’s essential. When it comes to using a vehicle hoist, cutting corners can result in serious injury, costly damage, and operational downtime. At HDR Workshop Solutions, we know firsthand that a safe workspace is a productive workspace. Understanding and consistently following proper safety procedures is your best insurance against potential hazards.
Vehicle hoists are powerful tools that greatly enhance productivity and accessibility, but only when they’re used correctly. Every step, from inspecting equipment to careful vehicle positioning, plays a critical role in ensuring safety.
Let’s make safety the first priority, every time.
1. Inspect Your Vehicle Hoist
Before even approaching the lift controls, take a moment to carefully inspect your hoist. Regular, thorough checks not only extend the life of your equipment but are your first line of defence against unexpected accidents.
Here are the essential steps to inspecting your vehicle hoist properly:
- Visual Inspection: Look closely for any signs of wear, including cracks, rust, or unusual bends in the arms and columns. Early identification of these issues can prevent serious problems later on.
- Check Hydraulic Components: Ensure hydraulic cylinders, hoses, and fittings are free of leaks, tears, or damage. Fluid leaks or weak hydraulics can lead to sudden, dangerous hoist failures.
- Examine Lift Pads and Arms: Confirm that the lift pads are securely attached, clean, and undamaged. They should freely adjust and lock into position. Inspect the arms for smooth operation and confirm they securely lock into place.
- Safety Locks and Emergency Controls: Test safety lock mechanisms to confirm they engage and disengage smoothly. Always verify that emergency stop controls function effectively and are easily accessible.
By starting with these routine inspections, you set the stage for safe and efficient operation every time. Remember, a minute spent checking now can save hours, or even days, of downtime later.
2. Prepare the Vehicle for Lifting
Properly preparing your vehicle before it leaves the ground is crucial for safety and ensuring you get the job done right the first time. Poor positioning or insufficient checks can lead to an unstable lift, causing damage to the vehicle or, worse, injury to workshop personnel.
Here’s what to do:
- Confirm Vehicle Weight Compatibility: Always check your vehicle hoist’s weight rating and ensure it comfortably exceeds the weight of the vehicle you’re lifting. Remember, an overloaded hoist can fail unexpectedly.
- Correct Vehicle Positioning and Alignment: Position the vehicle evenly between the lift columns, ensuring it’s centred and aligned. Proper alignment prevents imbalance during lifting, which could cause the vehicle to shift dangerously.
- Check Balance and Lift Points: Refer to the vehicle manufacturer’s lifting guidelines to find appropriate lifting points. Using incorrect lift points can damage the vehicle’s structure and pose a significant safety risk.
- Remove Any Obstructions: Clear any loose items from under the vehicle or from areas surrounding the lift. Check that nothing will interfere with the lift arms during operation.
3. Conduct Pre-Lift Checks
Before you press the lift button, pause and take one final safety-focused review. These simple but vital pre-lift checks can mean the difference between a successful job and a costly, avoidable accident.
Here’s how to carry out effective pre-lift checks:
- Clear the Workspace: Confirm that the immediate area around the vehicle hoist is free of tools, equipment, and other workshop hazards. A clean, clear workspace minimises the risk of accidents, slips, or trips.
- Wear Appropriate PPE: Always ensure you’re equipped with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), including safety boots, eye protection, gloves, and hearing protection if necessary. PPE is your safeguard against unexpected incidents.
- Double-Check Emergency Controls: Quickly test the hoist’s emergency stop controls to verify their responsiveness. Being familiar with emergency procedures allows rapid action if anything unexpected occurs during lifting.
- Verify Vehicle Stability: Take a moment to confirm that the lift arms and pads are securely placed under the manufacturer’s recommended lifting points. A final check helps guarantee balanced, stable lifting.
Remember, these last-minute checks might seem minor, but they significantly reduce risk and reinforce a culture of safety and vigilance in your workshop. With HDR Workshops, your safety and productivity always come first.
4. Operate the Vehicle Hoist Correctly
Now that you’ve completed your checks, it’s time to lift—but remember, safety doesn’t end when the vehicle starts to rise. Operating your vehicle hoist correctly demands constant awareness, patience, and attention to detail.
Follow these crucial steps for safe lifting:
- Engage the Lift Gradually: Begin raising the vehicle slowly, watching carefully for any signs of instability or imbalance. Once the vehicle is approx 150mm to 200mm off the ground, stop the hoist and go to the back or the front of the vehicle and bounce it a few times to ensure it is secure on the hoist. Once you have ensured the vehicle is stable, continue to raise it to the working height. Remember that controlled movements reduce the chance of the vehicle shifting on the hoist.
- Listen and Observe: Keep an ear out for unusual sounds, such as grinding, creaking, or popping noises, which may signal mechanical issues or incorrect vehicle positioning.
- Check Safety Locks: Once the vehicle reaches your working height, immediately engage and verify the hoist’s safety locking mechanisms. Never rely solely on hydraulics to support the vehicle.
- Stay Alert and Communicate Clearly: Maintain constant awareness of your surroundings, and clearly communicate with other workshop personnel. Alert others when a lift is occurring to keep everyone safe and aware.
- Reconfirm Stability Before Working: Give the vehicle a gentle test—carefully checking for any unexpected movement or sway—to confirm that it is secure and stable.
5. Safety While Working Under the Vehicle
Once the vehicle is securely raised, your responsibility for safety doesn’t stop. Being underneath a lifted vehicle requires an extra layer of caution to prevent serious accidents or injuries. Here are key practices for staying safe while performing under-vehicle tasks:
- Use Secondary Support Equipment: If you are removing substantial weight from the vehicle, such as an engine or a gearbox, use supplementary safety devices like stands or supports. Secondary supports are your insurance policy.
- Maintain Clear Communication: Clearly communicate your actions and intentions with colleagues in your workspace. Misunderstandings can lead to preventable accidents, so vocalise your movements and listen actively.
- Keep Your Workspace Organised: Avoid clutter by organising tools, parts, and equipment neatly. Keeping everything tidy reduces tripping hazards and helps maintain focus on the task at hand.
- Regularly Check Vehicle Stability: Periodically confirm that the vehicle remains securely balanced and stable during extended work sessions, especially when applying significant force or shifting heavy components.
- Work Mindfully and Calmly: Stay attentive and methodical under the vehicle. Rushing increases risk; thoughtful, steady work helps prevent accidents.
HDR Workshop Solutions prioritises your safety by emphasising vigilance at every stage. Following these guidelines ensures a safer workspace and peace of mind, every time you’re beneath a vehicle.
6. Lowering the Vehicle Safely
The final stage of using your vehicle hoist, bringing the vehicle back to the ground, is just as important as raising it. Lowering the vehicle safely demands the same careful approach and attention to detail as every previous step.
Follow these steps to lower the vehicle correctly and safely:
- Inspect the Area Below: Before lowering, thoroughly check underneath the vehicle and around the hoist area. Ensure there are no tools, equipment, or personnel in the immediate vicinity.
- Release Safety Locks Carefully: Disengage the safety locks according to the manufacturer’s instructions, confirming each step carefully to prevent sudden movements.
- Lower the Vehicle Gradually: Activate the hoist controls to lower the vehicle slowly and steadily, continuously monitoring for smooth and even descent. Sudden or uneven lowering can destabilise the vehicle or damage components.
- Final Checks on the Ground: Once the vehicle is safely on the ground, do a final visual inspection. Remove lift arms carefully, ensuring the vehicle’s suspension has settled naturally before moving it.
- Clear and Secure the Hoist: Return the lift arms and pads to their default, safe positions. Double-check that the hoist is ready for the next use and clean and clear of any hazards.
By taking care at every step, from lifting through to lowering, you’re reinforcing safety habits that ensure every job at your workshop is completed without incident. Your safety is always our priority at HDR Workshops, from start to finish.
Conclusion
Safety is more than just a checklist; it’s a commitment. By carefully inspecting your hoist, preparing vehicles correctly, conducting pre-lift checks, operating the hoist responsibly, and ensuring safe work practices under and around lifted vehicles, you’re creating an environment where everyone can work confidently and effectively.
Implementing these simple but crucial steps can help protect your staff, prevent costly downtime, and extend the life of your valuable equipment.
Ready to further strengthen your team’s safety and operational skills? Contact HDR Workshop Solutions today to learn about our specialised training programs designed to keep your workshop running smoothly and safely. Because when you put safety first, you put your business first.
