Safety alert - BendPak two post vehicle lifts – locking mechanisms

Date: 22.09.23

An investigation into the death of a motor vehicle mechanic, following a car falling from a two-post vehicle lift, has identified a serious risk. Investigations found that the arm locking mechanism of the BendPak two-post lift did not prevent the vehicle from falling.

This safety alert is aimed at users of BendPak two-post vehicle lifts to prevent the situation being repeated, and causing further serious injury or death.

Anyone using the BendPak two-post lift should act now. Users should check the arm restraint gear on their lift and, if affected, take immediate action to replace parts as detailed below.

An unknown number of BendPak two-post vehicle lifts have been supplied with arm restraint gears which allow complete disengagement from the arm locking mechanism, located on the carriage of the vehicle lift.

Also, in some of the lifts, the arm restraint gears are manufactured from a material that is insufficient to withstand the forces which satisfies the testing required by the harmonised standards relating to vehicle lifts. The current standard is BS EN 1493:2010.

The manufacturer has now redesigned the arm restraint gear. The new design is a machined part using a grade of steel which was found to be suitable when tested by the manufacturer. The gears now have circular rather than oval holes and a wider cross section which prevents disengagement.

Lifts which have not been supplied with this re-designed part still present a serious risk.

For more information visit: https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/bendpak-two-post-vehicle-lifts.htm