This Safety and Health Information Bulletin is not

a standard or regulation, and it creates no new

legal obligations. The Bulletin is advisory in

nature, informational in content, and is intended to

assist employers in providing a safe and healthful

workplace. The Occupational Safety and Health

Act requires employers to comply with hazardspecific safety and health standards. In addition,

pursuant to Section 5(a)(1), the General Duty

Clause of the Act, employers must provide their

employees with a workplace free from recognized

hazards likely to cause death or serious physical

harm. Employers can be cited for violating the

General Duty Clause if there is a recognized

hazard and they do not take reasonable steps to

prevent or abate the hazard. However, failure to

implement any recommendations in this bulletin is

not, in itself, a violation of the General Duty

Clause. Citations can be based only on standards,

regulations, and the General Duty Clause.

U. S. Department of Labor

Occupational Safety and Health Administration

Directorate of Science, Technology & Medicine

Office of Science and Technology Assessment

SHIB 04-29-2004

Safety and Health Information Bulletin

Hazards while Servicing Light Truck,

Automobile, and Other Small Tires

Purpose

The purpose of this Safety and Health Information

Bulletin (SHIB) is:

1. To alert service stations and other tire

repair shops of the hazards associated

with the repair or service of light truck,

automobile, and other small tires;

2. To encourage employers to establish

proper service and repair procedures;

and

3. To encourage employers to provide

training and enforce the procedures

established.

Background

The Hartford Area Office has investigated several

serious injuries and one fatality that occurred

during the servicing of automobile and other small

tires. The accidents occurred while employees

were attempting to repair or service mismatched

tires and rims. All the accidents resulted in

employees sustaining severe head and arm injuries

when the tire ruptured with explosive force. The

pictures in this SHIB graphically portray the

results when attempting to repair or service

mismatched tires and rims.

OSHA standard 29 CFR 1910.177, Servicing

multi-piece and single piece rim wheels, applies

only to the servicing of multi-piece and single

piece rim wheels used on large vehicles such as

trucks, tractors, trailers, buses, and off-road

machines. It does not apply to the servicing of rim

wheels used on automobiles, or on pickup trucks,

and vans utilizing automobile tires or truck tires

designated “LT”.

Description of Hazard

During the servicing or repair of automobile, light

truck, and other small tires, employees use

pressurized air to correctly position the tire against

the rim flange. This procedure is referred to as

“seating the bead.” The tire bead is the inner edge

of the tire that contacts the wheel flange and
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presses against the bead seat. The danger of serious

injury or death is present if a tire of one bead

diameter is installed on a rim or wheel of different

rim diameter. While it is possible to pass a 16"

diameter tire over the lip or flange of a 16.5" size

diameter rim, it cannot be inflated enough to

position itself against the rim flange. If an attempt

is made to seat the tire bead by inflation, the tire

bead could break with explosive force. The hazard

is present if an employee tries to install a tire on

the incorrect diameter rim or is attempting to

inflate or service a tire that is already mounted on

an incorrect rim. This can be especially hazardous

if an employee attempts to repair or inflate a tire

that is not properly secured to a tire mounting

machine, the vehicle, or in a safety cage.

Recommendations

Follow tire manufacturers’ procedures and

recommendations during the servicing and repair

of automobile, light truck, and other small tires.

Tire servicing procedures should include:

1. Never attempt to install a tire of one

bead diameter on a rim or wheel of a

different rim diameter. The tire size is

molded into the sidewall of the tire.

2. Follow the owner’s manual instructions

or tire placard instructions located on

the vehicle. Only inflate tires to the

recommended proper inflation pressure.

Tires should not be inflated above the

maximum pressure recommended by

the manufacturer to seat the tire bead

firmly against the rim flange.

3. Never inflate a tire unless it is securely

mounted to the tire mounting machine,

the vehicle, or in a safety cage.

4. Although the scope of 29 CFR

1910.177, Servicing multi-piece and

single piece rim wheels, does not apply

during servicing and repair of

automobile, light truck, and other small

tires, the standard contains useful

information that could be used to

protect personnel from the hazards

described in this document. The

standard, found at www.ohsa.gov/pls/

contains information that may assist the

employer in establishing service and

repair procedures and training of

employees. One useful method is the

use of a safety cage or rack that could

be used as a restraining device when

inflating the tires.

5. Establish proper tire service, repair and

inflating procedures and train

employees to follow these procedures.

6. Communicate and enforce these

procedures.

pls/oshaweb/wadisp.show_document?

p_table=STANDARDS&p_id=9825
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Tire Mounting Machine

Picture depicting damage to tire that

occurred during attempt to inflate a

mismatched tire and rim
Picture depicting damage to tire and rim

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