- Restraining devices and barriers must undergo inspection before each day of use and after any rim wheel component separation or sudden release of air.
- Interchanging of wheel components is forbidden except as specified in the charts or appropriate manual.
Employers are required to ensure the correct tire-servicing equipment is available and usable. This includes ensuring safety devices such as restraints are suitable for the task and employees are checking for wheel component compatibility.
Restraining devices
Restraining devices or barriers are required to have 150% maximum tire specification pressure capacity to withstand the maximum force that would be transferred to it during a rim wheel separation. To protect employees, the restraining devices and barriers need to be capable of preventing the rim wheel component from being thrown outside or beyond the device or barrier. These devices and barriers are to be furnished for inflating tires on multipiece and single-piece wheels.
The restraining devices and barriers must be inspected before each day’s use and after any separation of the rim wheel component or sudden release of contained air. This inspection should include checking for:
- Cracked or broken components or welds;
- Bent or sprung components caused by mishandling, abuse, tire explosion, or rim wheel separation;
- Pitting/corrosion of components; and
- Any structural damage that would decrease effectiveness.
If any damage is found during the inspection or use of equipment, the equipment is to be immediately removed from service. It can only be returned to service after it has been checked by the manufacturer or a registered professional engineer.
The air-line assembly used for inflating tires has a clip-on chuck, an in-line valve with a pressure gauge or preset table regulator, and a sufficient length of hose between the clip-on chuck and in-line valve (if one is used) to enable the worker to stand outside of the trajectory.
Wheel component acceptability
Wheel component acceptability is important to maintain a safe wheel. Interchanging components is strictly prohibited, except as permitted in the charts or the applicable rim manual.
All multipiece wheel components and single-piece wheels must be inspected before assembly and use. Rim flanges, rim gutters, rings, bead seating surfaces, and bead areas of tires should be clear of any dirt, surface rust, scale, or loose or flaked rubber buildup before mounting and inflation as these contaminants can cause improper inflation and create a hazard for employees. The components should be checked for compatibility before installation. This would include the size of the tires and wheels as well at the type of tires and wheels.