Posted By John Allen
If at all possible pits should be avoided.

They should be fenced around or covered when not I use (always a difficult requirement to enforce). They should have safe means of access at either end and be longer than the longest vehicle likely to use them so that there is safe alternative egress in an emergency.

Being a sump they will be the natural repository for any liquid in use where motor vehicles are repaired ie petrol, oil, water, or hydraulic fluid with consequent risk of flammable or noxious atmospheres. Some means of drainage will be required and pumps etc will need to be suitable for the duty.

In order to prevent people wandering about with inspection lamps that get run over by vehicles lighting should be built in but given flammable risk suitable protection will be required.

Finally, entering a pit which has been covered and unused for any length of time is the same as entering any confined space and should be well ventilated, tested and certified safe by a competent person before use, see above under petrol, oil etc.

While vehicle hoists introduce a risk of their own a properly maintained hoist is preferable to a pit.