Recurring concern

Unsafe two-post vehicle lifting operations

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First reported 10 May 2016•Latest report 11 Jan 2023

Definition

What this concern includes

Includes failures in controls dedicated to safely lifting vehicles with two-post lifts, including assessing lift-point and pad suitability, using compatible adaptors, maintaining secure contact, preventing unsuitable foreign objects or improvised supports, and ensuring operators are trained to perform the lifting operation safely.

Not included

Excludes general vehicle maintenance, repair or inspection failures where the two-post lifting operation is not the unsafe condition.
Excludes generic equipment training or documentation deficiencies unless they directly impair safe two-post vehicle lifting.
Excludes failures involving vehicle jacks, ramps, hoists or lifting equipment other than two-post vehicle lifts unless the assertion explicitly concerns the same two-post lifting process.
Excludes vehicle design or approval deficiencies unrelated to safely supporting a vehicle during two-post lifting.

Reports: 2
Individual concerns: 9
Date range: 2016–2023
Stated actions: 1

Reports over time

Reports about this concern issued each year.

* 2026 is projected from reports observed to 7 Sep 2026.

Most frequent recipients

Reports about this concern sent to each recipient.

Liftmaster Limited2

BendPak Inc.1

British Standards Institution1

Department for Work and Pensions1

European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association1

Health and Safety Executive1

Hsb Engineering Insurance Services Limited1

International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers1

Precision Bodyshop Ltd1

Recipient name withheld1

The Garage Equipment Association Limited1

The Safety Assessment Federation1

Volvo Cars1

West End Garage (Woking)1

Concerns and responses across reports

Only concerns grouped under this recurring concern are included. Select any concern, action or position to view the source wording.

11 Jan2023
West London
Concerns raised6
1. Excessive tolerated freeplay in 2-post vehicle lifts
2. Uncertainty about suitability of narrow vehicle lift points for frame contact pads
3. Lack of warnings about using outermost vehicle lift points
1. Lack of consistent British Standards for tolerated freeplay in 2-post vehicle lifts
2. Designation of unsafe outer vehicle lift points for 2-post lifts
3. Lack of warnings about dangers of outermost lift points
This report raised 10 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.

No linked response statements
No respondent-stated action or position is linked to these concerns in the published data.
AI-generated summary

Ashley Michel Bullard · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

Ashley Michel Bullard died after a Volvo S80 fell from a vehicle lift while he was working underneath it at Wheel Art Ltd. The lift’s freeplay and the alignment of its pads contributed to the pads moving from a structural part of the car to a non-structural part, causing the car to fall and fatally injure him. Concerns included inadequate maintenance, the use of unsuitable bolts, insufficient warnings and manuals, and risks associated with outer lift points and tolerated freeplay in two-post vehicle lifts.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Excessive tolerated freeplay in 2-post vehicle lifts
Wider context from the report
“1. Evidence was given that it could be possible to reduce the degree of freeplay in the Bendpak 2-post vehicle lifts. Given lift points positioned close to the edge of the vehicle may be in danger of allowing lifting pads / frame contact pads on the Bendpak XPR9 2-post vehicle lift and possibly other similar 2-post lifts, to move from a position under the structure of the vehicle, to a non-structural part of the vehicle, with a risk of the car leaving the vehicle lift, it appears the level of tolerated freeplay creates a risk of injury or death to those operating the lift. ”
Source location
Ashley Michel Bullard · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Uncertainty about suitability of narrow vehicle lift points for frame contact pads
Wider context from the report
“2. It is unclear whether a narrow vehicle lift point is suitable for 2-post vehicle lifts using frame contact pads, or whether a better fitted lifting pad adaptor is available. Evidence was provided by an HSE expert engineer, that some form of slotted vehicle lift pad would be better suited when using a 2-post vehicle lift to raise a car by way of the narrow outer lift points that are more often used with vehicle jacks. ”
Source location
Ashley Michel Bullard · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of warnings about using outermost vehicle lift points
Wider context from the report
“3. There are no warnings on the Bendpak XPR9 2-post vehicle lift or in its installation and operation manual, that suggests caution or a prohibition on using a 2-post vehicle lift in conjunction with the outer most lift points on the underside of vehicles, that may be positioned on or near the sill or seam of the vehicle and often within a few inches from a non-structural part of the vehicle for lifting purposes. ”
Source location
Ashley Michel Bullard · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of consistent British Standards for tolerated freeplay in 2-post vehicle lifts
Wider context from the report
“1. There appear to be no British Standards for the safe, acceptable and/or tolerated degree of travel or length of travel in terms of freeplay in 2-post vehicle lifts in the UK. Whilst evidence was provided by the HSE that the industry body SAFed suggested an acceptable degree of freeplay is the diameter of the vehicle lift’s frame contact pad, it is noted that various 2-post vehicle lifts have different diameter pads, and hence there is no consistency in the amount of freeplay tolerated in 2-post vehicle lifts. It was also noted that the diameter of pad in the present case, at 130mm, could allow a frame contact pad, to move from a position underneath the structure of a vehicle, to a position under a non-structural part of the vehicle, which can cause the vehicle to leave the lift. An HSE engineer’s expert evidence was that it might be more sensible for tolerated freeplay to not exceed half the diameter of the frame contact pad. ”
Source location
Ashley Michel Bullard · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 4 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Designation of unsafe outer vehicle lift points for 2-post lifts
Wider context from the report
“1. Volvo (and/or other manufacturers) appear to designate lift points towards the edge of vehicles, that are near, on, or outside the sill or seam of the underside of the vehicle. Lift points in a position so close to the edge of a vehicle frame, appear to be in danger of allowing frame contact pads on a Bendpak XPR9 2-post vehicle lift, and possibly other similar 2-post vehicle lifts, to move from a position under the structure of the vehicle, to a non-structural part of the vehicle, due to tolerated freeplay within the vehicle lift, leading to a risk of the car leaving the vehicle lift. Whilst multiple lift points are identified in manuals and/or on Autodata, no warning is given with regards to any danger of using 2-post vehicle lifts on the outer most lift points. ”
Source location
Ashley Michel Bullard · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 4 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of warnings about dangers of outermost lift points
Wider context from the report
“1. Volvo (and/or other manufacturers) appear to designate lift points towards the edge of vehicles, that are near, on, or outside the sill or seam of the underside of the vehicle. Lift points in a position so close to the edge of a vehicle frame, appear to be in danger of allowing frame contact pads on a Bendpak XPR9 2-post vehicle lift, and possibly other similar 2-post vehicle lifts, to move from a position under the structure of the vehicle, to a non-structural part of the vehicle, due to tolerated freeplay within the vehicle lift, leading to a risk of the car leaving the vehicle lift. Whilst multiple lift points are identified in manuals and/or on Autodata, no warning is given with regards to any danger of using 2-post vehicle lifts on the outer most lift points. ”
Source location
Ashley Michel Bullard · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 4 · concerns
Open source report
10 May2016
Surrey
Concerns raised3
1. Failure to record vehicle-lift operator training
2. Lack of formal guidance on safe tolerances for safety-critical elements of two-post lifts
3. Use of foreign objects between two-post lift pads and vehicles during lifting
This report raised 4 other concerns. They are not shown here because they do not form part of this recurring concern.
Responses linked to these concerns
Each statement is shown once, even when linked to more than one concern.
Actions described in response 1
1. Action
  Issue and disseminate additional operational guidance requiring thorough examiners to check post-ramp door locking and lateral arm movement limits.
  Stated by Health and Safety ExecutiveStated planned
AI-generated summary

Peter William RICHARDSON · Prevention of Future Deaths report

This summary was generated using AI from the published report. Please read the original report for the complete account.

Report summary

On 27 September 2015, Peter William Richardson was working beneath a car on a two-post vehicle lift when the car became dislodged and fell onto him, causing fatal head injuries. The substantive concerns included the absence of formal guidance on safe tolerances and torque levels for safety-critical lift components, inadequate recording and training arrangements, and the practice of placing foreign objects between lift pads and vehicles to provide clearance.

Read the report on judiciary.uk
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Failure to record vehicle-lift operator training
Wider context from the report
“d) Mr Richardson who operated the lift only received training on the specific lift at the point it was installed in 2012. All other users were subsequently trained by him in its use, which was not recorded and all users of the lift were expected to maintain the lift properly. ”
Source location
Peter William RICHARDSON · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 3 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Lack of formal guidance on safe tolerances for safety-critical elements of two-post lifts
Wider context from the report
“a) No formal guidance exists as to safe tolerances of safety critical elements of two-post lifts. The Court heard from two HSE witnesses and a ‘Thorough examiner’ who examined the lift for the purposes of complying with LOLER 1988, who gave differing views on what was a safe tolerance or ‘play’ for an extended lift arm. Further, it was accepted that this was an issue of concern to the HSE, but as yet remained to be dealt with. ”
Source location
Peter William RICHARDSON · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 2 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence
How this individual concern was interpreted
PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the report wording shown below.
PFD Monitor interpretation
Use of foreign objects between two-post lift pads and vehicles during lifting
Wider context from the report
“e) It is a known practice for a variety of different objects (for example a piece of wood) to be placed on top of the lift pads between the pad and the vehicle when it is lifted in order to provide clearance and to assist with difficult jobs such as removing a car under-shield. ”
Source location
Peter William RICHARDSON · Prevention of Future Deaths report
Page 3 · concerns
Open source report
Source evidence

How this respondent action was interpreted

PFD Monitor created a concise, searchable interpretation from the published response wording shown below.

PFD Monitor interpretation
Issue and disseminate additional operational guidance requiring thorough examiners to check post-ramp door locking and lateral arm movement limits.

Verbatim wording from the response
“The HSE intends to issue additional guidance concerning the inspection of two post ramps by thorough examiners to highlight the risks in relation to this type of lifting equipment. This will be covered in HSE Operational Guidance, which will be brought to the attention of the various stakeholder groups, namely the inspection industry and will also be publically available on the HSE website.”

Source location
2017-0162-Response-by-HSE
Page 1 · response
Published 17 August 2017
Open published response

Data last updated 7 September 2026

What this concern includes

Not included

Reports over time

Concerns raised6

Excessive tolerated freeplay in 2-post vehicle lifts

Uncertainty about suitability of narrow vehicle lift points for frame contact pads

Lack of warnings about using outermost vehicle lift points

Lack of consistent British Standards for tolerated freeplay in 2-post vehicle lifts

Designation of unsafe outer vehicle lift points for 2-post lifts

Lack of warnings about dangers of outermost lift points

Concerns raised3

Failure to record vehicle-lift operator training

Lack of formal guidance on safe tolerances for safety-critical elements of two-post lifts

Use of foreign objects between two-post lift pads and vehicles during lifting

Actions described in response An action is something a respondent says it has done, is doing, or plans to do in response to the concern raised.1

Actions described in response 1