Peter Richardson

During the course of the inquest the evidence revealed that: a) No formal guidance exists as to safe tolerances of safety critical elements of two-post lifts. The Court heard from two HSE witnesses and a ‘Thorough examiner’ who examined the lift for the purposes of complying with LOLER 1988, who gave differing views on what was a safe tolerance or ‘play’ for an extended lift arm. Further, it was accepted this was an issue of concern to the HSE, but as yet remained to be dealt with. b) The supplier of the Bendpak Lift in the UK, Liftmaster, do not supply guidance as to the required torque for safety critical RT4563

elements of their two-post lifts and neither do they provide guidance on safe tolerance levels. c) Safe tolerance should be considered at a LOLER ‘Thorough Examination’ however there is no guidance to be followed and there is no requirement for such tolerance levels to be recorded and as such the levels are not available to any subsequent examiner. d) Mr Richardson who operated the lift only received training on the specific lift at the point it was installed in 2012. All other users were subsequently trained by him in its use, which was not recorded and all users of the lift were expected to maintain the lift properly. e) It is a known practice for a variety of different objects (for example a piece of wood) to be placed on top of the lift pads between the pad and the vehicle when it is lifted in order to provide clearance and to assist with difficult jobs such as removing a car under-shield.

That consideration be given by (1), (2), (3) and (4) [please see paragraph 1 above] to:

1) Issuing guidance as to safe tolerance levels of safety critical elements on two-post lifts.
2) Implementing a system of recording tolerance and torque levels of all safety critical elements during a ‘Thorough Examination’ of a vehicle lift.
3) Implementing a system for recording such levels for comparison at subsequent examinations.
4) Either advising the industry that the practice of placing foreign objects between the two-post lift pads and the vehicle to provide the necessary clearance should not continue, or advising the industry how to provide such clearance safely when, for example, removing a car under-shield on a Two-post lift.
5) Implementing a system to ensure and to record that those operating a lift have been appropriately trained in its use and its maintenance and that they are periodically retrained.

That consideration be given by (8) to -

1) Providing appropriate and safe torque levels and tolerance levels of safety critical elements on Bendpak two-post lifts and others supplied.

That consideration be given by (5) and (6) to -

1) Implementing a system of recording tolerance and torque levels of all safety critical elements during a ‘Thorough Examination’ of a vehicle lift. RT4563

2) Implementing a system for recording such levels for comparison at subsequent examinations.

That consideration be given by (7) to -

1) Ensuring any member of staff operating a vehicle lift has received sufficient and appropriate training in the use thereof.
2) Ensuring each vehicle lift is checked on a daily basis by an appropriately experienced/trained member of staff and that all such checks are adequately recorded in writing.
3) Ensuring all vehicle lift manuals are available to lift operators at all times whilst at work.
4) Ensuring all vehicle lift operators use the pads made specifically for the lift being used and are instructed not to use any other object between the lift’s pads and the vehicle.)