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Servicing Multipiece and Single-Piece
Rim Wheels
Self Inspection Checklist


Guidelines: This checklist covers regulations issued by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) under 29 CFR 1910.177. It applies to servicing multi- and single-piece rim wheels used on large vehicles such as trucks, tractors, trailers, busses, and off-road machines. These regulations do not apply to rim wheels used on automobiles or pickup trucks and vans with automobile tires or truck tires designated LT. The regulations cited apply only to private employers and their employees, unless adopted by a State agency and applied to other groups such as public employees. A yes answer to a question indicates that this portion of the inspection complies with the OSHA or U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standard, or with a nonregulatory recommendation. Definitions of terms in bold type are provided at the end of the checklist.

Servicing tires on multipiece and single-piece rim wheels can result in serious injury or death to anyone in the area. The wheel can be propelled at great distances at great forces. The OSHA standard is quite specific about training requirements.

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Training

  1. Is a training program in place (including information
    about hazards and safety procedures) for employees
    or students who service rim wheels?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(c)(1)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. As part of the training program, have all employees
    and students been given the information on charts,
    rim manuals, and the OSHA regulations covered
    in this checklist?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(c)(1)(ii)]

    Note: Charts should be posted in the lab or shop.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. If students or employees are unable to read or
    understand the charts or rim manuals, has the
    information been conveyed in a manner that
    they understand?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(c)(1)(iii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Have students and employees who service rim
    wheels demonstrated and maintained the ability
    to service rim wheels safely, including
    acceptable performance of the following tasks?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(c)(2)]

    1. Demounting tires (including deflation)

    2. Inspecting and identifying rim wheel
      3. components

    3. Mounting tires (including inflation with
      restraining device or other safeguard required
      by this section)

    4. Using the restraining device or barrier and
      other equipment required by this section

    5. Handling rim wheels

    6. Inflating a tire when a single-piece
      rim wheel is mounted on a vehicle

    7. Installating and removing rim wheels
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Do students and employees stand outside the
    trajectory when tires are inflated and when the
    wheel is inspected following inflation?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(c)(2)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Have the students or employees who service rim
    wheels     been individually evaluated on their
    ability to perform these tasks and service
    rim wheels safely?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(c)(3)]

    Note: If anyone lacks proficiency in servicing
    rim wheels, he or she must be provided
    additional training.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 


Tire-Servicing Equipment

  1. Are restraining devices furnished for inflating tires
    on multi-piece wheels?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(1)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. When inflating a tire on a single-piece wheel that
    is not bolted onto the vehicle, are restraining
    devices or barriers provided?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(2)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Does each restraining device or barrier have the
    capacity to withstand the maximum force that
    would be transferred to it during a rim wheel
    separation occurring at 150% of the
    maximum tire specification pressure for the
    rim wheel being serviced?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(3)(i)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are restraining devices and barriers capable of
    preventing the rim wheel component from being
    thrown outside or beyond the device or barrier?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(3)(ii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are restraining devices and barriers inspected
    for the following before each day's use and after
    any separation of the rim wheel component or
    sudden release of contained air?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(3)(iii)]

    1. Cracks at welds

    2. Cracked or broken components

    3. Bent or sprung components caused by
      mishandling, abuse, tire explosion, or rim
      wheel separation

    4. Pitting of components due to corrosion

    5. Other structural damage that would
      decrease its effectiveness
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are damaged restraining devices or barriers
    immediately removed from service?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(3)(iii)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are damaged restraining devices or barriers
    returned to service only after a manufacturer or
    a registered professional engineer has repaired,
    reinspected, and certified them as meeting
    strength requirements?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(3)(iv)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Does the air line assembly used for inflating tires
    have a clip-on chuck; an in-line valve with a
    pressure gauge or a presettable regulator; and a
    sufficient length of hose between the clip-on
    chuck and the in-line valve (if one is used) to allow
    the student or employee to stand out of the trajectory?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(4)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are the current charts or rim manuals containing
    instructions for the types of wheels being serviced
    readily available in the service area?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(5)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Do employees and students use the tools recommended
    in the rim manual for the type of rim being serviced?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(d)(6)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 


Wheel Component Acceptability

  1. Is interchanging components strictly prohibited,
    except as permitted in the charts or in the
    applicable rim manual?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(e)(1)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are all multipiece wheel components and single-piece
    wheels inspected before assembly?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(e)(2)]

    Note: Do not use any wheel or wheel component that
    is bent out of shape, pitted from corrosion, broken,
    or cracked. Mark or tag it as unserviceable and
    remove it from the service area. Replace damaged
    or leaky valves.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Are rim flanges, rim gutters, rings, bead seating
    surfaces, and the bead areas of tires free from any dirt,
    surface rust, scale or loose or flaked rubber buildup
    before mounting and inflation?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(e)(3)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Is the size (bead diameter and tire/wheel widths) and
    type of the tire and the wheel checked for
    compatibility before assembly of the rim wheel?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(e)(4)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 


Safe Operating Procedures:
Multipiece Rim Wheels

  1. Have safe operating procedures been established
    for servicing multipiece rim wheels?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(f)]

 Y   N   N/A   ?? 
  1. Do students and employees use the following
    procedures?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(f)]

    1. Completely deflate tires before demounting
      by removing the valve core.

    2. Completely deflate tires by removing the valve
      core before a rim wheel is removed from the axle
      in either of the following situations:

      1. When the tire has been driven underinflated
        at 80% or less of its recommended pressure.

      2. When the tire or wheel components have
        obvious damage or if damage is suspected.

    3. Apply rubber lubricant to bead and rim mating
      surfaces when the wheels are assembled and tires
      are inflated, unless the manufacturer recommends
      against it.

    4. If a tire on a vehicle is underinflated but has
      more than 80% of the recommended pressure,
      inflate the tire while the rim wheel is on the
      vehicle (provided remote control inflation
      equipment is used, and no one is in the trajectory
      during inflation).

    5. Inflate tires outside a restraining device only
      to a pressure sufficient to force the tire bead onto
      the rim ledge, and create an airtight seal with the
      tire and bead.

    6. Whenever a rim wheel is in a restraining device,
      do not rest or lean any equipment or part of the
      body on or against the restraining device.

    7. After tire inflation, be sure the tire and wheel
      components are inspected while still within the
      restraining device to make sure that they are
      properly seated and locked. If further adjustment
      to the tire or wheel components is necessary,
      deflate the tire by removing the valve core before
      making the adjustment.

    8. Do not correct the seating of side and lock ring
      by hammering, striking, or forcing the components
      while the tire is pressurized.

    9. Do not rework, weld, braze, or otherwise heat
      cracked, broken, bent, or otherwise damaged
      rim components.

    10. Whenever multipiece rim wheels are being
      handled, stay out of the trajectory unless the
      servicing makes presence in the trajectory necessary.

    11. Do not apply heat to a multipiece wheel or
      wheel component.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 


Safe Operating Procedures:
Single-Piece Rim Wheels

  1. Have safe operating procedures for servicing
    single-piece rim wheels been established?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(g)]
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 

  1. Do students and employees use the following
    procedures?
    [29 CFR 1910.177(g)]

    1. Completely deflate tire by removing the valve
      core before demounting.

    2. Mount and demount the tire only from the
      narrow ledge side of the wheel. Avoid damaging
      the tire beads while mounting tires on wheels.
      Mount tires only on compatible wheels of matching
      bead diameter and width.

    3. Apply nonflammable rubber lubricant to bead and
      wheel mating surfaces before assembling the
      rim wheel, unless the tire or wheel manufacturer
      does not recommend rubber lubricant.

    4. If a tire-changing machine is used, inflate the tire
      only to the minimum pressure necessary to force
      the tire bead onto the rim ledge.

    5. If a bead expander is used, remove it before the
      valve core is installed and as soon as the
      rim wheel becomes airtight (the tire bead slips
      onto the bead seat).

    6. Inflate tires only when they are contained within
      a restraining device, positioned behind a barrier, or
      bolted on the vehicle with the lug nuts fully tightened.

    7. Do not inflate tires when any flat, solid surface is
      in the trajectory and within one foot of the sidewall.

    8. Stay out of the trajectory when inflating a tire.

    9. Do not inflate tires to more than the inflation
      pressure stamped in the sidewall, unless a higher
      pressure is recommended by the manufacturer.

    10. Do not inflate tires above the maximum pressure
      recommended by the manufacturer to seat the tire
      bead firmly against the rim flange.

    11. Do not apply heat to a single-piece wheel.

    12. Do not rework, weld, braze, or otherwise heat
      cracked, broken, bent, or otherwise damaged wheels.
 Y   N   N/A   ?? 




Definitions:

Charts: The OSHA publications entitled Demounting and Mounting Procedures for Truck/Bus Tires and Multipiece Rim Matching Chart; the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) publications entitled Demounting and Mounting Procedures Truck/Bus Tires and Multipiece Rim Matching Chart; or any other poster that contains at least the same instructions, safety precautions, and other information in the charts that is applicable to the types of wheels being serviced.

Multipiece rim wheel: a multipiece wheel with the tire tube and other components.

Multipiece wheel: a vehicle wheel consisting of two or more parts, one of which is a side or locking ring designed to hold the tire on the wheel by interlocking components when the tire is inflated.

Rim manual: a publication containing instructions from the manufacturer or other qualified organization for correct mounting, demounting, maintenance, and safety precautions for the type of wheel being service.

Rim wheel: an assemblage of tire, tube, and liner (where appropriate), and wheel components.

Single-piece rim wheel: the assemblage of single piece rim wheel with the tire and other components.

Single-piece wheel: a vehicle wheel consisting of one part, designed to hold the tire on the wheel when the tire is inflated.



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National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health