| Lifts are used to raise a vehicle on a
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| | of many vehicle manufacturers, including
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| stable platform, allowing automotive
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| | Honda, Volkswagen and Audi.
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| mechanics unrestricted access to inspect
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| | Despite changes in the design of lifts
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| and repair the underbelly, transmission
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| | over the years, many injuries and
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| and wheels of the vehicle. Multiple
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| | accidents occur annually. This is usually
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| vehicle lifts are standard equipment in
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| | due to human error rather than any flaw
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| most auto repair shops. In addition, some
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| | in the lift design. The most simple
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| automobile enthusiasts install lifts in
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| | things often lead to disaster. Auto
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| their homes for vehicle storage.
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| | mechanics sometimes fail to keep the lift
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| Prior to 1920, only service pits were
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| | area free of debris, grease/oil and
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| available for repairing and doing
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| | obstructions. Not paying close attention
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| preventive maintenance on the undersides
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| | when working around the lifts or allowing
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| of vehicles. The hydraulic auto lift was
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| | untrained individuals to use them are two
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| invented in the 1920's to reduce the time
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| | more potential problems. Some forget to
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| and equipment needed to hoist vehicles
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| | wear the right safety gear, including
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| off the ground. Depending on the design
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| | goggles, a hard hat, and steel toed
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| used, .today's vehicle lifts can raise up
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| | boots.
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| to 50,000 pounds and can cost between
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| | Proper use and maintenance of the
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| $9,000 and $45,000. Installation not
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| | equipment is essential. Blocking or
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| included.
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| | overriding the controls is dangerous. The
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| In the beginning, there were no industry
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| | manufacturer's rated capacity is shown on
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| standards and vehicle lifts varied in
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| | the nameplate affixed to lift. Despite
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| design and construction. After World War
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| | this, some mechanics use the lift to
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| II, there were only fifteen auto lift
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| | hoist vehicles that exceed the weight
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| manufacturers in the United States. They
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| | limit.
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| recognized the need to develop standards
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| | An ounce of prevention is better than a
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| to guide the industry. In 1947, the U.S.
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| | pound of cure. Mistakes made before the
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| government issued its first set of
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| | vehicle is lifted are accidents waiting
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| standards. The Occupational Safety and
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| | to happen. The lift arms must be properly
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| Health Administration developed its own
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| | positioned before the vehicle is raised.
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| regulations in 1974.
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| | If the center of gravity of the car is
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| Today, there are three major
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| | not on the center of the lift, cars may
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| manufacturers of heavy lifts: Mohawk
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| | tip off. With some vehicles, removing or
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| Resources Ltd. of Amsterdam, NY;
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| | installing items may cause a critical
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| Advantage Lift Systems based in San
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| | shift in the vehicle's center of gravity
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| Diego, CA; and Rotary Lift in Madison,
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| | and result in instability. Mechanics
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| IN. Electric controls for lifts are
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| | should always refer to the lift
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| standard, and lift features vary
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| | manufacturer's recommendations. If there
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| according to price and model. They vary
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| | is not ample overhead clearance space,
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| depending on where they make contact with
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| | the vehicle may be crushed. Mistakes also
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| the vehicle, usually the axles, frame or
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| | occur when the transmission is not in
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| wheels. They include single-, two-,
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| | neutral, doors are not securely closed or
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| four-post, and scissors lifts. The
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| | the ignition is not turned off. Some
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| single- and two-post lifts are ideal for
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| | repairmen fail to lock the lift into
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| small trucks and cars. The four-post auto
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| | place before going under it. Others raise
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| lift is used for most commercial and
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| | the car while someone is inside the
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| transit vehicles. The scissors lift saves
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| | vehicle.
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| space by having the posts in the middle
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| | Numerous accidents occur during the
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| of the lift, operating like an open pair
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| | lifting process. The vehicle should be
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| of scissors.
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| | loaded on a lift carefully. Mechanics
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| Over the years, the structure of the
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| | should ensure that the lift supports are
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| automobile body has changed. Vehicles
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| | in contact with the manufacturer's
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| previously built onto underbody frames
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| | recommended lifting points. When a secure
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| are now being constructed into frameless
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| | contact is made, the lift can be raised
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| or unibody styles. Lifts have evolved to
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| | to the desired working height. If work
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| better handle the structure of newer
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| | will be done under the vehicle, the lift
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| vehicles. Rotary, for example, has
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| | should be raised high enough for its
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| developed the three stage lift. It has
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| | locking device to be engaged.
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| three telescoping sections, giving it a
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| | Before lowering a lift, the mechanic
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| greater range of extension and retraction
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| | should ensure that everything is removed
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| than other lifts. As a result, it can
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| | from under the vehicle. Locking devices
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| reach a broader range of vehicle pick-up
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| | should be disengaged before the lift is
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| points. It has become the preferred lift
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| | lowered.
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