Text For Citation: 01 Item/Group: 005 Hazard:

29 CFR 1910.177(g): The employer did not establish a safe operating procedure for servicing single piece rim wheels which contained, at a minimum, the elements listed in 29 CFR 1910.177(g)(1) through (12), and did not ensure that employees were instructed in and followed that procedure. a) On or about June 1, 2012, Eastern Colorado Tire & Auto, LLC did not ensure that employees were protected from tire servicing hazards. An employee was fatally injured when safe operating procedures to ensure that restraining devices were used when inflating tires were not developed or enforced. b) On or about June 1, 2012, Eastern Colorado Tire & Auto, LLC did not ensure that employees were protected from tire servicing hazards. An employee was fatally injured when safe operating procedures to ensure that employees involved in the inflation of wheels remained outside the trajectory of the wheel were not developed or enforced. Abatement Note: A Safe Operating Procedure for single rim wheels includes, at a minimum, the elements listed in 29 CFR 1910.177(g)(1) through (12). These elements are as follows: 1. Tires shall be completely deflated by removal of the valve core before demounting. 2. Mounting or demounting of the tire shall be done only from the narrow ledge side of the wheel. Care shall be taken to avoid damaging the tire beads while mounting tires on wheels. Tires shall be mounted only on compatible wheels of matching bead diameter and width. 3. Nonflammable rubber lubricant shall be applied to bead and wheel mating surfaces before assembly of the rim wheel, unless the tire or wheel manufacturer recommends against the use of any rubber lubricant. 4. If a tire changing machine is used, the tire shall be inflated only to the minimum pressure necessary to force the tire bead onto the rim ledge while on the tire changing machine. 5. If a bead expander is used, it shall be removed before the valve core is installed and as soon as the rim wheel becomes airtight (the tire bead slips onto the bead seat). 6. Tires may be inflated only when contained within a restraining device, positioned behind a barrier or bolter on the vehicle with the lug nuts full tightened. 7. Tires shall not be inflated when any flat, solid surface is in the trajectory and within one foot of the sidewall. 8. Employee shall stay out of the trajectory when inflating a tire. 9. Tires shall not be inflated to more than the inflation pressure stamped in the sidewall unless a higher pressure is recommended by the manufacturer. 10. Tires shall not be inflated above the maximum pressure recommended by the manufacturer to seat the tire bead firmly against the rim flange. 11. No heat shall be applied to a single piece wheel. 12. Cracked, broken, bent, or otherwise damanged wheels shall not be reworked, welded, brazed or otherwise heated.