Vehicle Lift & Equipment Safety: the full procedure

How technicians inspect a vehicle lift before use, set manufacturer lift points, engage locks, respect capacity, and use jacks and jack stands safely.

• Applies to: All technicians using lifts, jacks, or jack stands.
• Frequency: Before every lift use; plus daily visual checks and an annual qualified inspection.
• Scope: Covers safe lift operation, pre-use inspection, and jack/jack-stand use. Lift operation and inspection defer to ANSI/ALI ALOIM, the lift manufacturer’s instructions, OSHA, and the shop’s written safety plan.

What you need

• Lift operator manual
• Manufacturer lift-point guide
• Rated jack and jack stands
• PPE (safety glasses, safety shoes)
• Daily lift checklist

The procedure, step by step

1. Inspect lift before use — Visually check cables, chains, arms, restraints, hydraulics, and the safety-lock mechanism for damage or leaks; tag out and report any fault instead of using the lift.
2. Confirm capacity & weight — Verify the vehicle weight is within the lift’s rated capacity and that the load is balanced before raising — never exceed the manufacturer’s rating.
3. Set manufacturer lift points — Position pads only at the vehicle manufacturer’s designated lift points using the correct adapters so the load can’t shift or fall.
4. Raise & engage locks — Raise to working height, then lower onto the mechanical safety locks so the load rests on the locks, not the hydraulics, before going underneath.
5. Use rated jacks & stands — When jacking on the floor, use a jack and jack stands rated at or above the load, on firm level concrete, and place stands at support points before working under.
6. Never work under unsupported loads — Do not go beneath a vehicle held only by a jack or unlocked lift; OSHA cites improper jacking/support as a leading cause of fatal shop accidents.
7. Wear required PPE — Use safety glasses and safety footwear (and gloves/head protection as the task requires) per the shop safety plan whenever working at or under a lift.
8. Daily & annual inspection — Perform the daily operator check, log issues, and ensure an ALI Certified Inspector completes the required annual inspection per ANSI/ALI ALOIM.

Quality check before you finish

• Lift inspected and fault-free before each use.
• Vehicle weight confirmed within rated capacity.
• Pads set at manufacturer lift points.
• Mechanical safety locks engaged before going under.
• Jack stands rated and placed before any under-vehicle work.
• Required PPE worn.
• Annual ALI-certified inspection current and logged.

This is a free, source-anchored standard operating procedure (SOP) you can print and hand to staff. It documents the work sequence for a Auto Repair Shop business — not safety or regulatory rulings, which defer to the cited authorities, the applicable code, and your own health-and-safety plan. Open the tool above to print it, toggle ink-saver, or (with a free ToolFluency Business account) edit it to match your own workflow.

Sources

• ALI / ANSI ALOIM — Annual Lift Inspection Standard (autolift.org)
• OSHA 1926.305 — Jacks: Rating & Cribbing (osha.gov)
• OSHA — Improper Jacking/Support Fatal-Accident Data (osha.gov)