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Split rim wheels

Contents

  1. Introduction
  2. Tyre assembly can kill
  3. Why do tyres blow off?
  4. How do I protect myself against blow offs?
  5. What do investigations show?
  6. Who should carry out tyre assembly/fitting?
  7. Correct tyre pressure
  8. What safety equipment should you use?
  9. Hazards
  10. Prevention strategies
  11. Key steps

1. Introduction

Changing tyres with split rim wheel assemblies can be hazardous. Split rim wheels are often used on trucks, tractors, forklifts and earthmoving machinery.

2. Tyre assembly can kill

A number of people have been killed or seriously injured in Western Australia during the assembly / fitting of pneumatic tyres.

3. Why do tyres blow off?

In most cases, the accidents have occurred when the locking rings or bead wires have blown off the rims of the tyre during inflation. The force of escaping air is enough to hurl the tyre and rim with great force into the air.

4. How do I protect myself against blow offs?

Always place the tyre in a safety cage or use other guards to confine the tyre or rim within the cage or guard if the tyre blows up during inflation.

5. What do investigations show?

Investigations by WorkSafe Inspectors have shown that the use of a safety cage or other guards could have prevented injury or death to tyre fitters. Reports such as the following tell a familiar story.

An employee was killed when he was struck in the face with considerable force, by the flying rim, when a tyre blew off during inflation.

The report concluded that if a safety cage or guard had been provided and used to enclose the wheel the employee would still be alive.

6. Who should carry out tyre assembly/fitting?


Tyre assembly/fitting should be carried out by tyre fitters fully trained in correct procedures and safe work practice.

Detailed methods and instructions for safe tyre assembly/fitting are available from the manufacturers of tyres and wheels.

7. Correct tyre pressure

Make sure that you know the correct tyre inflation pressure.

Correct tyre pressure can be obtained from the Tyre Fitment Placard, which is mounted in the glove box or on the door/door pillar of the vehicle, or from the manufacturers of the tyre and wheel.

Never over-inflate tyres.

8. What safety equipment should you use?

  • Use a simple guard or safety cage to prevent any injury to the tyre fitter if a failure does occur. There are a number of guards commercially available, which are inexperience, portable, and adaptable to a range of tyre sizes.
  • Use a pressure limiting device, such as a preset air gauge, on air hoses.
  • Use a special low pressure air-water gauge for testing tractor tyre pressures. Don't over-inflate a truck or tractor tyre beyond the recommended inflation pressure stamped on the side of the tyre.
  • Use a remote control airline with gauge and clip-on chuck so the operator can stand aside during inflation procedures. Don't use a clip-on chuck on hoses connected directly to a compressed air line.
  • Use jacks and jack stands which are appropriate for the job, and in good working condition. Take care to locate the jack securely under the axle housing and on a firm level base.

9. Hazards

Split rim wheel assemblies can blow apart during tyre inflation or deflation due to:

  • damaged or mismatched rim parts;
  • corroded or dirty rim parts;
  • not deflating tyres before removal;
  • incorrect tyre size;
  • over inflating tyres;
  • removing the nut which holds the wheel rim together (on some types of split rim); or
  • fitting tubed tyres on a rim designed for tubeless tyres.

10. Prevention strategies

Use the following measures to minimise the risk of injury from split rim wheels:

  • inspect rims for defects such as cracks and rust before placing tyres on them;
  • ensure rim pieces are seated correctly and if necessary tap them gently into position with a soft headed hammer;
  • inflate all truck and tractor tyres in purpose-built restraining devices such as a safety cage;
  • ensure airlines have a hand piece with a gauge;
  • ensure there is sufficient distance from the valve stem to the gauge so tyre fitters are in a safe position for inflating tyres;
  • inflate tyres in incremental (10 psi) stages;
  • check the rim after each stage to ensure correct seating;
  • always consider the trajectory path of rim components when inflating tyres or when handling or fitting wheels on vehicles;
  • adequately train and instruct new employees in safe operating procedures;
  • provide training for employees for all different rim assemblies eg trilex, split rim, tubeless; and
  • supervise employees appropriate to their skill and knowledge.

11. Key steps

DO NOT REMOVE split rim wheels from vehicles or unscrew any nuts on the wheel until the tyre is deflated and the valve centre (core) removed.

DO NOT REMOVE tyres from any wheels with detachable flanges or locking devices until the tyre is deflated and the valve centre (core) removed.

DO NOT ASSEMBLE tyres and wheels unless flanges, rings and grooves are clean, undamaged and undistorted.

DO NOT INFLATE tyres on split rim wheels unless the wheel is behind a purpose built restraining device (guard).

PLACE WHEELS CENTRALLY behind the purpose built restraining device (guard) and inflate slowly to not more than 35 kPa.

MAKE SURE that all flanges and rings are properly seated.

CONTINUE INFLATION with wheel behind purpose built restraining device (guard).

AVOID OVERPRESSURE and do not leave an airline which is attached to a valve unattended. 

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