The Complete Vehicle Hoist Maintenance Checklist for Australian Workshops
A well-maintained vehicle hoist is a safe vehicle hoist. Regular maintenance not only keeps your team safe and your workshop WHS-compliant — it also dramatically extends the service life of equipment that can cost tens of thousands of dollars to replace. Here's the complete checklist every Australian workshop should be using.
1Daily Pre-Use Checks (Every Operator, Every Shift)
Before operating any vehicle hoist, technicians should verify: no visible hydraulic leaks under the hoist or around cylinders, safety locks engage and release smoothly on both sides, lift pads are present, undamaged, and correctly positioned, the hoist raises and lowers smoothly without unusual noise, emergency stop (if fitted) is functional, and the rated capacity label is visible and legible. These checks take under 2 minutes and should be logged via a digital sign-off system.
2Weekly Maintenance Tasks
Each week, a designated technician should: check hydraulic fluid level and top up if required, inspect all hydraulic hoses for cracking, chafing, or weeping, lubricate all pivot points, equaliser cables, and slide blocks per the manufacturer's schedule, check cable tension on two-post hoists (cables should have equal tension), and inspect the column anchors and base plates for movement or cracking.
3Monthly Maintenance Tasks
Monthly checks should include: full inspection of all safety lock teeth and ratchet mechanisms, check and adjust equaliser cable tension if required, inspect all electrical connections and control switches, test the lowering speed (should be slow and controlled — not free-fall), verify the hoist's rated capacity against the current load requirements, and review the maintenance log for any recurring issues.
4Annual Professional Inspection
Once per year (or more frequently for high-use hoists), a licensed inspector must conduct a full AS/NZS 1418 compliance inspection. This goes beyond what workshop staff can assess — it includes load testing, structural assessment, and certification. The resulting compliance certificate must be stored on-site and attached to the hoist's maintenance record.
5When to Take a Hoist Out of Service
A hoist must be immediately taken out of service if: any hydraulic leak is detected, a safety lock fails to engage, unusual noise or vibration occurs during operation, the hoist drifts down under load, any structural crack or deformation is visible, or the compliance certificate has expired. Tag the hoist with an out-of-service notice and notify the workshop manager immediately.
Consistent maintenance is the single most effective way to prevent hoist failures and keep your workshop compliant. Digital maintenance tracking makes it easy to assign tasks, log completions, and prove compliance during a WorkSafe audit. Build the habit — your team's safety depends on it.