Non-compliant vehicle stands

Issued: 25 January 2012
Last Updated: 25 January 2012

Purpose

The purpose of this alert is to highlight the risks associated with using non-compliant vehicle stands.

Background

A worker was killed when a car fell on him. The worker was under the car with the front end raised and supported by a single vehicle stand made from welded wheel rims.

Photograph 1 - an example of a vehicle stand similar to the one involved in the fatal incident.

Contributing factors

It should be noted that the wheel stand did not fail - instead the car dropped. The stand was under the radiator support member, which was not strong enough to take the load.

Actions required

Always ensure the following:

• Make sure there are enough vehicle stands or ramps to adequately support the vehicle.
• Make sure that the vehicle stands are strong enough and don't allow the vehicle to rock (i.e. use stands and ramps compliant to AS/NZS 2538 and AS/NZS 2640).
• Before you get under the vehicle, make sure it won't move even if you give it a push.
• Remember that damaged cars generally may not be very strong.

It is important to:

• never put the vehicle stands under weak parts of the vehicle that can give way
• never get under an unstable vehicle
• never get under a vehicle that is sitting on forklift tynes
• never stack vehicles too high so that they can fall
• never get under a vehicle supported by a jack unless there are also vehicle stands under the car as well.