Claimed Capacity and Warning Labels
Claimed capacity: The recent purchase of an automotive lift believed to be a “Universal Lift 9K” was advertised as and depicts a 9,000lbs. capacity label. The operation manual provided by the seller and identified as “Universal Lift 9K F-NT9 Manual.pdf” defines the maximum capacity as 3,700kg. This value calculates to only 8,158lbs.
Stated “Characteristics of Lift” in the operation manual “utilisation of 2 cylinders and twin ropes distribute balanced pressure on each post thus, along with double post safety lock, makes this product accident proof hoist.” The Automotive Lift Institute cautions consumers and lift users that the attributes presented do not “makes this product accident proof hoist” as claimed in the operation manual provided.
Automotive lift models certified by ALI have been tested by an accredited third-party laboratory to validate the stated capacity and the information contained in the operation manual. The lift identified in this Buyer Beware notification is not certified to meet the electrical or mechanical safety requirements of the applicable national standards.
Consumers of these lifts are advised to take appropriate caution as the operation manual clearly states “failure to operate the equipment as directed in the manual may cause injury”.
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Warning Labels: ALI’s copyright protected Warning Labels have been fraudulently reproduced and distributed on certain automotive lifts sold by North American Auto Equipment. Lift users, owners, building code and health and safety officials, as well as prospective buyers are advised that the required hazard signal/keywords and color coding presented in these labels are not in accordance with the current national safety requirements specified by OSHA 29 CFR 1910 and further defined by the ANSI Z535 series, the American National Standards for Safety Signs and Colors.
The ANSI Z535 series is a comprehensive collection of standards guiding the design, evaluation, and use of safety signs, colors, and symbols intended to prevent personal injury by visually alerting people to potential hazards.
The 2011 edition of the ANSI Z535 series required prohibition symbols and safety sign and label colors for warning, caution, and notice labels to change from what was sold by North American Auto Equipment in 2019 (depicted in the image below) as having been distributed on certain automotive lifts from this company.
The verbiage and color coding of these fraudulent labels could cause confusion or lift operator misunderstanding that may result in injury or death. North American Auto Equipment and all affiliated responsible parties that have engaged in this unlawful and unethical approach undermine automotive lift safety, putting public trust at risk.
ALI continues to promote the safe design, construction, installation, inspection, and use of automotive lift products. The integrity of the ALI warning label series is of paramount importance to promote user safety.
