ALI seeks lift inspectors for certification program

In an effort to attract students to its new Lift Inspector Certification Program, the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) has reduced the cost from $2,000 to $850.

Registration is now open for the new program – still in pilot phase – which was developed in response to growing demand from businesses that use vehicle lifts, as well as the governmental health and safety organizations that monitor them.

Annual vehicle lift inspections conducted by a “qualified automotive lift inspector” are required by the ANSI National Standard, covering vehicle lift operation, inspection, and maintenance. Inspections are also included by reference in regulations in both Canada and the United States. However, until now there have been no national vehicle lift inspection licensing or certification programs.

“Proper vehicle lift certification, installation, and inspection have come under increased scrutiny in recent years by OSHA and other local, state, provincial and federal health and safety officers,” said Bob O’Gorman, ALI president. “This has resulted in an increase in shops looking for qualified automotive lift inspectors.”

He said without a national certification program in place, vehicle lift inspection companies haven’t been able to offer independent validation that their inspectors are qualified.

The Certification Program will provide third-party assurance that a Certified Lift Inspector has been tested and proven competent to thoroughly inspect an installed vehicle lift and report on its suitability for continued use and/or the need for maintenance or repair.

“We encourage all vehicle lift inspectors to demonstrate their professionalism and differentiate themselves from their competitors by getting certified,” he said.

Anyone with a minimum two years experience as a vehicle lift inspector may apply to participate in the certification program. The program includes extensive printed training materials, a six-hour Participants Orientation workshop, a written pre-course exam, a final course exam, and documented practical experience. After successfully passing the exams, the candidate will receive recognition as an automotive lift inspector certified by ALI, as well as a Certified Lift Inspector patch and other official materials.

Companies with a Certified Lift Inspector on staff will be listed in an online directory on the ALI website.

Currently in the pilot program phase, the ALI Lift Inspector Certification Program officially kicks off with an event Oct. 31-Nov. 1 at the 2012 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. Vehicle lift inspectors interested in participating in the first offering are encouraged to come to the orientation meeting and workshop the afternoon of Oct. 31 and all day (six hours) on Nov. 1.

As part of the launch, ALI has reduced the price of the program from $2,000 to $850 for a limited time. Register by August 15, 2012, to guarantee a place in the premiere group. Registration is open at www.autolift.org/store.htm.

“We have been getting requests to join the program for months,” says Dale Soos, ALI senior project engineer. “Now that registration is open, the kick-off event in Las Vegas is filling fast. Those who delay signing up may find they are unable to participate in another workshop until May or June of 2013.”

Founded in 1945, the Automotive Lift Institute (ALI) is a trade association of North American-based vehicle lift manufacturers. ALI’s mission is to promote the safe design, construction, installation, service and use of vehicle lifts. In 1947, ALI developed the first Commercial Standard covering vehicle lifts published by the National Bureau of Standards. Today, ALI sponsors several national automotive lift safety standards and offers a third-party Automotive Lift Certification Program.

More information about automotive lift standards and other ALI-sponsored safety activities, such as the Automotive Lift safety training DVD Lifting It Right hosted by Richard and Kyle Petty, can be found on the Institute’s website, www.autolift.org. Contact ALI on Facebook at www.facebook.com/LiftInstitute or call (607) 756-7775.

You can also find ALI on Twitter, www.twitter.com/LiftInstitute and YouTube, www.youtube.com/LiftInstitute.