Unsafe Bolts on Bendpak xpr two post vehi lifts

Health and Safety Executive - Safety notice

Department Name:   Field Operations Division

Bulletin No:   FOD02-2023

Issue Date:     August 2023

Target Audience:      Users and suppliers of BendPak XPR series two-post vehicle lifts, motor vehicle repair and associated industries.

Issue

BendPak XPR series two-post vehicle lifts have a half-moon-shaped arm restraint gear on each arm which is either welded or bolted. On some of the lifts with the arm restraint gear attached with bolts, the bolts do not meet the required strength standard increasing the risk of a major incident.

Outline of the problem

Evidence from an investigation of a fatal incident revealed concerns with an aspect of the manufacture and supply of the BendPak XPR series two-post lifts.

The bolts should be 8.8 class bolts. If the lift’s arm restraint gear is attached using bolts marked ‘4.8’ or unmarked bolts, then there is an increased risk of a major incident, including a vehicle falling from the lift.

BendPak XPR series lifts use a teeth-meshing mechanism to lock the arm gears. Many of these lifts use a bolted connection to attach the arm restraint gear (as is in the diagram): 

BendPak require the use of a minimum class of 8.8 bolts tightened to an appropriate torque for the lift to meet the strength standards for two-post vehicle lifts set out in the British Standard; BS EN 1493. An understrength lift is at risk of not being able to support or withstand the forces it is subjected to, and is at risk of collapse. 

Action required:

Users of BendPak two-post lifts should:

Check

Check the bolts. If the arm restraint gear has a bolted connection check if any 4.8 class, or unmarked, bolts are in use. The class should be clearly stamped on the bolt head. If there is no marking, then you should assume that it is not the correct class bolt. Check that bolts are tightened. If you have 8.8 class bolts you must ensure that they are tightened to the correct torque of 33 ft/lb (or 45 NM). A previous HSE safety alert covered the need to install a redesigned arm restraint gear. Check that your lift has the newer arm restraint gear type. The newer gear rings sit flush to the pin, have circular rather than slotted or elongated holes, and have the appearance of being machined rather than cast. More information is available from the previous Safety Bulletin.

Replace

Contact the lift supplier to get replacement parts. If the lift does not have a minimum class of 8.8 bolts for all arm gear bolted connections (or it does not have the redesigned arm restraint gear) take immediate action to replace them. Do not use the lift until the necessary replacements have been made by a competent person. A manufacturer’s video demonstrating how replacement can be carried out is available.

Thorough examination by a competent person

Thorough examination by a competent person Users must make sure that the lift undergoes thorough examination as required by the Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998 (LOLER).

Maintain

User of two-post vehicle lifts should inspect and maintain them in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions. This includes regular checks (at least monthly, according to the manual) on the tightness of all bolted connections to ensure they are correctly torqued. See the manual for further information on required maintenance checks.

Guidance

https://www.hse.gov.uk/safetybulletins/bendpak-vehicle-lifts2.htm?utm_source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bendpak-sa&utm_term=safety-alert-2&utm_content=safety-alert-15-aug-23

DVSA BODY CAMS

Roll out of bodycams for DVSA frontline enforcement staff

You may see our staff are starting to wear body worn cameras when they visit your MOT garage.

We are investing in ‘bodycams’ for all frontline enforcement staff to reduce physical and verbal assaults.

The move brings us in line with many other enforcement bodies such as the police who have been using ‘bodycams’ for a number of years in their frontline work.

What is a 'bodycam'?

‘Bodycams’ are small devices slightly larger than a credit card which are usually worn on the chest, and record video and audio much like a personal CCTV device.

Whilst the majority of the people we come into contact with are courteous, we need to be able to protect the public without fear of violence or abuse.

We take a zero-tolerance approach to physical and verbal assaults and the bodycams will act as a deterrent.

They will also enable us to manage, support and respond to any assaults that take place.

MOT Rules Changing

Mandatory MOTs are to be reintroduced from 1 August, cutting short the six-month test exemption introduced on 30 March in response to the coronavirus lockdown, it has been confirmed today. The Government had put in place an extension to tests for half a year, though warned motorists that they would be responsible for ensuring their cars were roadworthy - else face a fine of up to £1,500. Confirming the news on Monday, Roads Minister Baroness Vere said: 'Garages across the country are open and I urge drivers who are due for their MOT to book a test as soon they can.' Drivers had been granted a six-month exemption from MOT testing to help slow the spread of the virus at the beginning of the pandemic. However, since lockdown has been eased in England, motor industry bodies have called for the MOT extension to be axed to ensure the safety of drivers and to help garages recover from a significant drop in business. At the beginning of May, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, Independent Garage Association and Institute of the Motor Industry clubbed together to mount pressure on the government to cull the MOT temporary MOT rules.

Working safely under motor vehicles being repaired

This leaflet is aimed at owners, managers and supervisors of motor vehicle repair facilities – it may also be useful to employees.

Working beneath a vehicle is often required to check for faults, servicing, repairs etc. Because these tasks are so common, people may get used to the fact that they are working under potentially lethal weights. But, unfortunately, serious and fatal accidents do happen each year despite the dangers and precautions being well known.

The leaflet includes extracts from HSE inspectors’ accident reports (mostly fatalities) involving people working beneath vehicles in motor vehicle repair. They don’t cover every danger but include explanations of how you can minimise the most serious risks and will hopefully remind you of the consequences of getting it wrong.

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg434.pdf?utm_source=govdelivery&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=coronavirus&utm_term=vehicles-2&utm_content=mvr-12-jun-20

Covid 19 and Garage Equipment Inspections & Calibrations

If garage equipment is due its routine maintenance / calibration verification / LOLER inspection what should we do? The HSE have not relaxed any inspection requirements such as LOLER at this point in time, but it is not recommended that garage equipment engineers perform routine maintenance / inspections whilst the country is in lock down unless this is for sites that perform work on critical vehicles, such as emergency response vehicles. In all situations garages will need to have assessed, conducted and recorded a risk assessment as to if it is safe to continue to use the equipment, until a suitable engineer an carry out the required work.

The following information has been released from the Garage Equipment Association in regard to supporting garages during the Covid-19 pandemic lock down.

MOT stations and garages are listed as essential businesses and are allowed to remain open under government guidelines. Support to equipment within garages is not currently listed as essential. The GEA recommendation is, where possible, for equipment companies to only offer remote support to its customers, and not send engineers to site.

Each company should conduct their own risk assessment and review its own operating polices inline with government guidelines.

MOT stations can issue MOT certificates for vehicles presented during this time.

Should a piece of MOT test equipment run out of calibration but still be operational and safe to use, the MOT station may continue to use it. If the equipment locks out / shuts down or fails due to a fault then they should stop performing MOTs.

The extension of 6 month MOT certificates will only come into force from Monday 30th March 2020. Any vehicle that was due an MOT or had failed an MOT before this date will still require an MOT to be legally on the road.

The 'check my MOT' on the .Gov website (link below) will automatically be updated with the new MOT due date when it has been applied. The DVSA are only updating dates in batches approx. 1 week before current due date.

Further information can be obtained from: https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus

Connected equipment extension

MOT connected equipment transition period

We've introduced a transition period of 3 months for new or different AEs (authorised examiners) taking ownership of a currently authorised VTS (vehicle testing station) to get mandatory connected equipment installed.

This means that new equipment won't need to be installed in the VTS the day it reopens so gives you time to set it up.

Currently, only roller brake testers need to be able to connect to the MOT testing system.

Decelerometers will need to be connectable from 1 February 2020 with other items following shortly afterwards.

If mandatory connected equipment is not in use after 3 months from the date the garage opened, the site will have to stop testing.

We've been listening 

We've introduced this transition period following feedback from you. We want to make the process of taking over an existing garage or setting up a new one as smooth as possible.

We'll keep you informed of future developments on connected equipment.

Decelerometers added to connected MOT equipment

Decelerometers added to connected MOT equipment 

From 1 February 2020, anyone buying a new decelerometer for class 3, 4, 5 or 7 test lanes will need to make sure it's a model that can connect to the MOT testing service.

This comes after the 1 October 2019 changes for roller brake testers. The change includes buying replacement equipment, and as part of the process of getting authorisation to carry out MOTs at a test station. 

We've done this to modernise testing in garages, save garages time and reduce the risk of error and fraud.

Working with manufacturers 

We're working with manufacturers to develop other types of connectable equipment.

The following items are estimated for introduction:

  • diesel smoke meters - late spring

  • exhaust gas analysers late spring

  • headlamp aligners - summer

Until they are introduced, garages can continue to use their current models.

You can find more about MOT garage equipment on GOV.UK

The Garage Equipment Association lists all DVSA acceptable equipment.

Identity and security checks for authorised examiners

Identity and security checks for authorised examiners have changed

From today (1 November 2019), anyone who becomes an authorised examiner or authorised examiner designated manager will need to have a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check carried out.

This is the basic DBS check that verifies the applicant's identity and will show any unspent convictions.

You won't have to do anything if you're already authorised. We'll only request that you submit a DBS check for any additions or changes to your authorisation, or possibly as part of an appeal against any disciplinary action that has been taken against you.

This procedure replaces the counter-signing of driving licences or passports which used to be carried out to check credentials.

We've done this to protect the integrity of the MOT and to simplify the process for applicants.

Register on GOV.UK

New Volvo VPS Install

Our just recently completed install of new equipment including new air, oil, water reels to each ramp, all cables and hydraulic supply hoses sunk into ground, New ATL MOT bay.