How Often Should Vehicle Lifts Be Inspected?

How often should vehicle lifts be inspected? Learn the HSE recommendation, LOLER intervals and why servicing does not replace examination.

How often should vehicle lifts be inspected? The Health and Safety Executive recommends that vehicle lifts in motor vehicle repair premises undergo a thorough examination by a competent person every six months. This is separate from routine checks, servicing and maintenance.

There is some important legal nuance behind that answer.

Under the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998, known as LOLER, lifting equipment is normally thoroughly examined every 12 months. The statutory interval becomes six months where the equipment is used to lift people. A suitable examination scheme drawn up by a competent person may specify different intervals.

However, vehicle lifts create a particular risk because mechanics and technicians routinely work beneath the raised load. For this reason, the HSE’s motor vehicle repair guidance recommends six-monthly thorough examination of vehicle lifts. The HSE has also specifically advised six-monthly examination and testing of vehicle scissor lifts used in motor vehicle repair.

For most commercial garages, workshops, dealerships, MOT centres and fleet-maintenance facilities, six-monthly thorough examination is therefore the sensible interval to adopt unless a competent person has established a suitable examination scheme.

How often should vehicle lifts be inspected under LOLER?

The practical answer for a vehicle workshop is every six months, following current HSE motor vehicle repair guidance.

This applies to common vehicle-lifting equipment such as:

• Two-post vehicle lifts

• Four-post vehicle lifts

• Vehicle scissor lifts

• In-ground lifts

• Mobile column lifts

• Commercial vehicle lifts

• Wheel-engaging lifts

• Platform and runway vehicle lifts

The precise legal interval can depend on the lift’s intended use and whether it is used to lift people.

LOLER sets a maximum interval of six months for lifting equipment used to lift people and 12 months for other lifting equipment, unless an examination scheme specifies otherwise. A mechanic working beneath a raised vehicle is not automatically being “lifted” by the equipment, but the consequences of lift failure can still be severe. That is why the HSE recommends a six-month interval for vehicle lifts in motor vehicle repair premises.

Where people remain inside or on a vehicle while it is raised, the equipment is being used to lift people. The six-month statutory interval then applies directly.

A business should not rely on the least demanding interpretation without considering its actual work. The lift’s design, manufacturer’s instructions, operating environment, frequency of use and the HSE’s sector-specific guidance all matter.

Excel Inspection Solutions provides independent garage equipment inspections for vehicle workshops, MOT centres, dealerships and fleet-maintenance facilities.

Is a vehicle lift inspection a legal requirement?

Vehicle lifts used at work are lifting equipment under LOLER. They must be subject to thorough examination where deterioration could result in a dangerous situation.

LOLER applies alongside the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, commonly known as PUWER. These regulations impose related but distinct duties.

LOLER requirements

LOLER addresses the safety of lifting equipment and lifting operations. It requires relevant equipment to be:

• Strong and stable enough for its intended use

• Marked with appropriate safe working load information

• Positioned or installed to minimise risk

• Used through properly planned lifting operations

• Thoroughly examined by a competent person

• Supported by suitable examination records

PUWER requirements

PUWER requires work equipment to be:

• Suitable for its intended purpose

• Maintained in an efficient state, efficient working order and good repair

• Inspected where deterioration could cause danger

• Used by people who have received adequate information, instruction and training

• Fitted with suitable controls and protective measures

A LOLER thorough examination does not replace maintenance or PUWER inspection. Likewise, a maintenance visit does not replace a required thorough examination.

You can read more about the relationship between the two regulations in EIS’s guide to LOLER and PUWER.

Why does the HSE recommend six-monthly examination?

Vehicle lifts support heavy loads above people who may have little opportunity to escape if the equipment fails.

A technician working beneath a raised vehicle depends on several systems continuing to perform correctly, including:

• Lifting arms and platforms

• Mechanical load-holding devices

• Arm restraints and locking mechanisms

• Hydraulic or pneumatic systems

• Ropes, chains, nuts or screws

• Structural connections

• Synchronisation systems

• Vehicle contact points

• Anchorage to the workshop floor

Failure of one safety-critical element can allow a vehicle to become unstable, tilt or fall.

The HSE’s guidance on working safely under vehicles recommends that vehicle lifts be thoroughly examined every six months. It also makes clear that thorough examination is not a replacement for regular in-house checks and maintenance.

This distinction is essential. A lift can develop a fault between examination dates, particularly in a busy workshop where it completes many cycles every day.

What is a thorough examination of a vehicle lift?

A thorough examination is a systematic and detailed assessment of the lift and its safety-critical parts. It must be carried out by a competent person who can identify defects, assess their significance and produce a written report.

It is more than a brief visual check or a maintenance service.

Depending on the lift’s type and design, the examination may consider:

• Structural integrity

• Platforms, runways and lifting arms

• Arm locks and restraint systems

• Vehicle contact pads and adaptors

• Hydraulic cylinders, hoses and connections

• Pneumatic systems

• Wire ropes, chains, pulleys and sprockets

• Lead screws and load-bearing nuts

• Mechanical locks and safety catches

• Synchronisation systems

• Limit switches and stopping devices

• Controls and emergency lowering arrangements

• Safe working load markings

• Floor fixings and anchor bolts

• Electrical safety-related components

• Evidence of unauthorised alteration or damage

The exact scope is determined by the lift’s design, condition, history and manufacturer’s information, together with the competent person’s professional judgement.

Testing may be required where necessary to determine whether the lift can continue to be used safely. It should not be assumed that every examination requires the same tests. The competent person should decide what is appropriate based on risk and the equipment’s circumstances.

Is a thorough examination the same as servicing?

No. Servicing, routine inspection and thorough examination have different functions.

Servicing and maintenance

Servicing aims to keep the vehicle lift working safely and reliably. It may include:

• Lubrication

• Adjustment

• Replacement of worn components

• Hydraulic-fluid checks

• Tension adjustment

• Functional testing

• Fault diagnosis

• Cleaning of safety mechanisms

The service frequency should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and reflect the lift’s workload and operating conditions.

Routine inspection

Routine inspections help identify deterioration between services and thorough examinations. They may be carried out by appropriately trained workshop staff or maintenance personnel, depending on the nature of the inspection.

Thorough examination

The thorough examination is an independent assessment of whether deterioration or defects affect safe continued use. Its outcome is recorded in a formal Report of Thorough Examination.

A vehicle lift can be recently serviced and still require its LOLER thorough examination. Conversely, an in-date thorough examination report does not mean servicing can be postponed.

How often should workshop staff check a vehicle lift?

Vehicle lifts should be checked before use and monitored during normal operation. The frequency and detail should follow the manufacturer’s instructions and the workshop’s risk assessment.

A practical pre-use check may include looking for:

• Visible damage, distortion or cracking

• Hydraulic leaks

• Damaged hoses or electrical cables

• Excessive wear on lifting pads

• Missing or damaged adaptors

• Faulty arm restraints

• Problems with locking devices

• Unusual noise, vibration or movement

• Uneven lifting

• Failure of platforms or arms to synchronise

• Damaged controls

• Obstructions around the lift

• Loose or visibly damaged floor fixings

• Illegible safe working load markings

Operators should also confirm that the vehicle is positioned correctly and that the manufacturer’s approved lifting points are used.

Any unusual behaviour should be reported immediately. A safety-critical defect should result in the lift being isolated and clearly marked to prevent use until it has been assessed and made safe.

A checklist is useful, but it should not encourage operators to carry out technical tasks beyond their competence.

When is an additional thorough examination needed?

A calendar-based examination programme is only part of the requirement.

An additional thorough examination may be necessary following exceptional circumstances liable to jeopardise the safety of the vehicle lift. Examples include:

• Overloading

• Structural impact

• Partial or complete failure

• A vehicle becoming unstable or falling

• Damage to a lifting arm or platform

• Failure of a load-holding device

• Flooding, fire or significant contamination

• A major modification

• Replacement or repair of a safety-critical component

• A long period out of use

• Relocation or reinstallation where safety depends on installation conditions

Not every minor repair automatically triggers a new thorough examination. The important question is whether the event or work could have affected the lift’s safety.

Where there is uncertainty, competent advice should be obtained before the lift returns to service. The original examination due date should not be treated as proof that the lift remains safe following a significant incident.

Can an examination scheme specify a different interval?

Yes. LOLER allows lifting equipment to be examined in accordance with a suitable examination scheme drawn up by a competent person.

An examination scheme is a technically justified programme based on factors such as:

• Lift design

• Manufacturer’s recommendations

• Age and condition

• Frequency and intensity of use

• Workshop environment

• Foreseeable deterioration

• Maintenance history

• Previous defects

• Consequences of failure

The scheme should specify which parts require examination, the methods to be used and the applicable intervals. Different components may require different examination frequencies.

An examination scheme should not be confused with an informal decision to delay an examination. Unless a competent person has established a suitable scheme, workshops should follow the applicable statutory requirements and the HSE’s six-month recommendation for vehicle lifts.

Who can inspect a vehicle lift?

A LOLER thorough examination must be carried out by a competent person.

That person must have sufficient practical and theoretical knowledge and experience of the type of vehicle lift being examined. They must be able to:

• Identify defects and weaknesses

• Recognise relevant deterioration

• Assess the significance of a defect

• Decide whether the lift can remain in use

• Specify an appropriate remedial deadline

• Determine whether testing or further investigation is necessary

• Produce a compliant written report

The competent person must also be sufficiently independent and impartial to make objective decisions.

The HSE explains that the person carrying out the thorough examination should not be the same individual who performs the routine maintenance, because that would involve assessing their own work.

This does not necessarily prohibit a maintenance organisation from also providing examination services. However, the individuals and arrangements must preserve the competence, independence and impartiality required for the thorough examination.

EIS does not sell garage equipment maintenance, replacement parts or remedial work. Learn more about why independence matters.

What should the examination report contain?

After completing the thorough examination, the competent person must issue a written report containing the information required by LOLER.

The report should clearly identify:

• The vehicle lift examined

• The employer or organisation for whom the examination was made

• The examination date

• The safe working load

• The date by which the next examination is required

• The examination scheme, where applicable

• Any tests carried out

• Any defect that is or could become dangerous

• The date by which each relevant defect must be remedied

• The competent person who completed the examination

The lift should be identified using a serial number, asset number or another unique reference. A generic certificate for a model or group of lifts is not sufficient evidence that a particular lift has been examined.

The report should be read in full. A next examination date does not cancel the need to respond to defects or observations recorded elsewhere in the document.

What happens if the vehicle lift fails its examination?

The response depends on the nature and severity of the defect.

A defect presenting immediate danger

If a defect creates an existing or imminent risk of serious personal injury, the lift should be taken out of service immediately and remain isolated until the defect has been remedied.

The competent person must follow the applicable statutory reporting requirements, which can include notifying the relevant enforcing authority.

A defect that could become dangerous

A defect may not require immediate withdrawal but could become dangerous if it continues to deteriorate. The report should specify the time allowed for remedial action.

The defect must be rectified within that period. If this is not done, the lift must not continue to be used after the deadline.

Other observations

The report may also contain non-statutory observations or recommendations. These should still be reviewed and allocated. Addressing developing issues can help prevent breakdowns, future dangerous defects and unexpected workshop disruption.

A coloured inspection label should never take priority over the written report.

Which other items in a garage need examination?

A vehicle lift is only one part of a workshop’s lifting-equipment inventory.

Other equipment may include:

• Trolley jacks

• Bottle jacks

• Engine cranes

• Transmission jacks

• Vehicle-mounted cranes

• Lifting beams

• Chains

• Slings

• Shackles

• Mobile column lifts

• Cab-tilt systems

• Axle stands and vehicle-support equipment

The HSE advises that equipment such as trolley jacks, bottle jacks and engine hoists should generally be thoroughly examined every 12 months. Lifting accessories such as chains and web slings should generally be examined every six months.

Axle stands and similar load-supporting equipment are not necessarily lifting equipment under LOLER, but they remain safety-critical work equipment requiring appropriate inspection under PUWER.

Garage pressure systems, including air receivers and some compressor installations, may fall under the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000. These requirements are separate from LOLER and may require a Written Scheme of Examination.

Each item should be correctly classified rather than applying one interval to every piece of workshop equipment.

Safe use between examinations

A thorough examination records the lift’s condition at a point in time. Safe use depends on what happens throughout the following months.

Workshop managers should ensure that:

1. Operators are trained and authorised.

2. The lift’s safe working load is visible and never exceeded.

3. Vehicles are compatible with the lift.

4. Correct manufacturer-approved lifting points are used.

5. Vehicle weight distribution is considered.

6. Lifting arms and pads are positioned correctly.

7. Arm locks and restraints engage properly.

8. The vehicle is checked for stability after being raised slightly.

9. Nobody is beneath or close to the lift during raising and lowering.

10. The area around the lift is kept clear.

11. Manufacturer-specified maintenance is completed.

12. Defects are reported and acted upon promptly.

Attachments and adaptors should be suitable for the vehicle and lift. Improvised extensions or incorrect pads can change the loading and allow a vehicle to become unstable.

Electric vehicles require particular attention to their approved lifting points, weight distribution and battery location. The lift and accessories must be suitable for the vehicle being raised. Staff should use manufacturer information rather than relying on assumptions based on comparable petrol or diesel models.

Common compliance mistakes

Treating servicing as the examination

A service sheet does not automatically satisfy LOLER. Check that a formal thorough examination has been completed by a competent person and that a compliant report has been issued.

Counting six months as twice per year

Two examinations within a calendar year are not necessarily six months apart. Use the next due date stated on the report or examination scheme.

Looking only at the inspection label

Labels can be damaged, incorrect or out of date. The written report is the primary record and may contain actions that do not appear on the label.

Ignoring equipment used infrequently

Low use does not automatically remove the requirement for thorough examination. Infrequent equipment can also deteriorate through corrosion, contamination, damage or lack of maintenance.

Assuming a new lift needs no examination arrangements

Before first use, confirm the conformity, installation and examination documentation that applies. A new lift should be added to the equipment register immediately rather than waiting until someone notices that an examination is overdue.

Missing exceptional events

A serious overload, impact or safety-device failure can require attention before the next scheduled examination.

Failing to close defects

Booking the examination is only part of compliance. Every defect needs an owner, deadline and evidence of completion.

A practical vehicle-lift compliance system

An effective workshop system should include:

• A complete equipment register

• Unique identification for each lift

• The applicable examination interval or scheme

• Previous and next examination dates

• Accessible examination reports

• Planned maintenance dates

• Operator pre-use checks

• A simple defect-reporting process

• Clear isolation procedures

• Remedial-action tracking

• Records of significant repairs or modifications

Examinations should be booked before the due date. This allows time to arrange safe access, locate previous reports and coordinate any assistance required for functional checks.

The competent person should be told about known faults, incidents, repairs and changes in use. Temporarily concealing a defect or cleaning away evidence of leakage without reporting it can undermine the examination.

The practical answer

For vehicle lifts in motor vehicle repair premises, follow the HSE recommendation of a thorough examination by a competent person every six months.

The underlying LOLER interval is normally 12 months for lifting equipment that does not lift people and six months where people are lifted, unless a suitable examination scheme specifies otherwise. The six-month recommendation for vehicle lifts reflects the serious risk to technicians who work beneath raised vehicles.

Thorough examination must be supported by manufacturer-specified servicing, routine inspection, pre-use checks and prompt defect management. None of these measures replaces the others.

Excel Inspection Solutions provides independent thorough examinations of two-post lifts, four-post lifts, vehicle scissor lifts, mobile column lifts and other garage equipment across the South East and wider UK.

To discuss vehicle-lift or multi-site garage inspection requirements, call 01634 907073 or email enquiries@eis-uk.com.

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