Vehicle Hoist and Lifting Equipment Procedure

Purpose. This procedure sets the rules for using, inspecting and maintaining two-post and four-post hoists, trolley jacks, vehicle stands and engine cranes so that no vehicle falls and no person is crushed.

1.Scope

This procedure applies to every hoist, jack, stand and crane on all Torque sites. It applies to technicians, apprentices, detailers and any contractor who lifts a vehicle.

2.Authorisation

Only workers whose training is recorded in the training matrix will operate a hoist. Apprentices must be observed by their supervising technician on each hoist type until the supervisor signs them off. Visitors and customers must not enter a bay while a vehicle is raised.

3.Pre-use checks

Before every lift the operator must check that the hoist carries a current inspection tag, that the arms, pads and locks move freely, that the area under the vehicle is clear and that the vehicle's lifting points are located from the repair information. Any defect must be reported and the hoist tagged out of service.

• Current inspection tag visible
• Arm locks engage on both sides
• Pads and extensions in good condition
• Floor clear of tools, hoses and fluids
• Lifting points identified for the vehicle

4.Lifting and working under a vehicle

Raise the vehicle to 300 millimetres, stop and check pad contact and stability before continuing. Lower the hoist onto its mechanical locks before working underneath. Heavy components must be supported with a transmission jack or stand before fasteners are removed. Never lift a vehicle with a person inside.

5.Trolley jacks and stands

A trolley jack must never be used to support a vehicle while a person is beneath it. Stands rated for the vehicle mass must be placed under the manufacturer's support points on a level concrete floor. Wheels remaining on the ground must be chocked.

6.Inspection and maintenance

Every hoist is inspected quarterly by a competent person and serviced annually by the hoist contractor, with results recorded in the Plant and Equipment Register. Hoist cables, chains and hydraulic hoses are replaced at the intervals the manufacturer specifies.

7.Incidents

Any slip of a vehicle on a hoist, any failure of a lock or any near miss must be reported immediately, the hoist tagged out, and an entry made in the Incident and Hazard Register.