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BEST PRACTICES IN LIFT SAFETY

Safety is an increasingly important concern in the auto dealership. The opportunity for a misstep can be costly on multiple levels. Consequences range from non-billable work created by a technician’s error to multimillion-dollar injury and negligence lawsuits. Keeping your technicians safe means keeping your dealership safe. Additionally, many towns and local authorities require annual lift inspection. Further, many insurance companies either require it for coverage, or give a discount for those that have opted to inspect their lifts. Please note that lift safety is complicated and continually developed by both manufacturers and other third-parties and this is by no means an exhaustive list. Here are some best practices in lift safety: Inspection and Maintenance

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Another important aspect to vehicle safety is routine inspection and maintenance. Inspection is a process whereby a lift inspector can check your lift for any potential problems or concerns. This must be done annually by a qualified lift inspector. Maintenance on a lift includes anything from part replacement to the complete overhaul to ensure its proper functionality, use and safety. Choosing a Lift Inspector/Repairer

Choosing a qualified lift inspector can seem daunting. The Automotive Lift Institute, also known as ALI, offers a Third-Party Certification Program for automotive lift products and automotive lift inspection services provided by inspectors. The only independent verification of lift inspector qualification in North America is the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) Lift Inspector Certification Program. ALI Inspectors: • Follow industry standard lift inspection processes and use standardized lift inspection documentation to ensure that every lift receives a consistently thorough inspection. • Have been independently tested and certified by ALI as qualified to inspect any vehicle lift, regardless of manufacturer, brand, model, type, age or location. • Have signed the ALI Lift Inspector Certification Program Participant Code of Ethics. Technicians that perform maintenance and repair should understand the lifts intimately and better than your Service Managers. Make sure that they deal with your lift’s manufacturers regularly and make sure that they make a commitment to expedience and attention to detail. In the long run, choosing the right inspector and repairer will not only benefit your business (as preventative inspection and maintenance is always cheaper than fixing a problem once it’s occurred), but it will benefit your dealership’s safety as well.

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