The work of garage mechanic is made easy with hydraulic car lifts. The car comes overhead so you can work easily on the car instead of lying down below the car. But along with the convenience that it affords, it also requires some care so that you can continue to work safely.

Caution - Hydraulic Car Lifts can be Deadly

Please not that working below a lift is a potentially dangerous condition if you do not take precautions to avoid accidents. Badly maintained lifts with faulty controls can malfunction and action is so quick that the person can consider himself/herself lucky with injuries no matter how serious.

Precautions to Be Taken with Hydraulic car Lifts

While working under a raised car make sure that,

• You know where the controls are located and know the controls properly. Untrained persons can be dangerous in times of emergency. Such persons aggravate the situations instead of bringing it under control.
• Make sure that unauthorized persons and customers are not allowed in the area.
• The feeder that feeds electrical power to the hydraulic pump should be in off position and the switch locked to prevent the power being fed to hydraulic pump.
• If it is possible lock the lift in that position with mechanical lock.

1. Ensure that the lift does not go beyond the maximum position where it might be unsafe for the lift and mechanic.

2. Ensure that lifts are used only for jobs for which it was made. Using it for any other work can be deadly.

3. See that the controls get the manufacturer's checks regularly. Get these checks done by the manufacturer or a mechanic trained at manufacturer's training institute.

4. Get the hydraulic lifts checked regularly and check for leakages from the seals or hydraulic hoses. If you detect any leakage any time, keep clear of the raised lift. Bring it down as early as possible consistent with other condition. Attend to the lift and test the system and then only use the lift once again.

5. Keep a watch on hydraulic pressure when lifting the load. If you notice that the pressure is higher than the normal, do not use the lift till it is certified safe by the maintenance personnel.

6. Check the fluid level regularly and top up with recommended oils.

7. Remove any dirt around pistons and cylinders.

8. Check the structure of the platform and see if any defects are noticed during inspection

9. See that the weight being lifted is within the capacity of lift.

10. The dimensions of car being lifted do not go beyond the frame of lift structure.

And Now Some Don'ts with Hydraulic Car Lifts

1. Do not use the lift that works with jerks (No not the one working below it)

2. Do not use the lift that settles down slowly when you settle down to work

3. Do not use a lift that blows oil through the air breather

4. Do not use the lift that has damaged platform

5. Do not use the lift without locking the controls once the car has been raised.