Why standards matter

Tail lifts are hydraulically driven and powerful enough to cause serious crushing injuries. To make sure tail lift design, manufacture and installation reach a basic level of safety, the industry commonly refers to international and European standards. This article looks at two standards often cited for tail lift safety systems: EN1756-1 and ISO 13854.

EN1756-1: overall safety requirements for tail lifts

EN1756-1 covers safety requirements for tail lifts (platform lifts for goods) mounted on wheeled vehicles, including design, manufacture, installation and testing. It requires tail lifts to be equipped with safety devices that can detect people, and defines requirements such as:

  • detection coverage across both side edges of the tail lift platform
  • automatic stopping of the hydraulic operation when a person or obstacle is detected
  • correct integration of the safety device with the tail lift control system

EN1756-1 is an important benchmark for tail lift safety in Europe and beyond, and many Hong Kong fleets use compliance with such standards as part of their purchasing requirements.

ISO 13854: minimum gap principles for machine safety

ISO 13854 belongs to the machine safety standards family and sets out basic principles such as the minimum gaps needed to avoid crushing body parts. It provides the engineering basis for guards designed to prevent crushing, for example how sensor detection distances and spacing should be set so that people cannot be trapped between the platform and the vehicle body.

What this means for buyers

When buying a tail lift safety system, confirm with the supplier:

  • whether the product is claimed to comply with EN1756-1:2021 and ISO 13854:2019
  • whether sensor spacing and detection distances meet the Hong Kong Labour Department guidance updated in May 2025
  • whether installation certification and maintenance support are provided

Everpeak Engineering’s LD2503 / LD2504 / LD2505 tail lift safety system is designed to these standards and has completed Hong Kong design registration (number 2525795.3). Contact us if you have questions.