Understanding the Risks:Servicing tyres on both single-piece and multi-piece rim wheels involves handling pressurized systems, presenting potential hazards. While single-piece rim wheels are common in various motor vehicles, multi-piece rim wheels, predominant in heavy and off-road vehicles, pose specific challenges due to their inherently unsafe design.

Hazards and Dangers:When servicing tyres, especially on multi-piece rims, hazards include the potential release of explosive force if not properly controlled. The force can result in severe injuries, including ejection of the valve core and the risk of workers being thrown against hard surfaces. Multi-piece rim wheels add another layer of danger, as components may separate during the air blast, turning into projectiles.

Preventive Measures:To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to plan and equip your property with the necessary tools and knowledge to control the explosive force during tyre servicing. Always deflate and inflate tyres within a safety cage or portable restraint device, ensuring the worker never reaches into the cage during the process. Wearing protective goggles or face shields is essential, and positioning the body correctly during inflation or deflation is paramount.

Key Questions to Ask:

• When is the release of force most likely to occur?
• What equipment is needed to control this force, and who will operate it?
• Who should be aware of the safety procedures for controlling this force?
• How regularly should equipment, knowledge, and willingness to implement safety measures be checked?

Factors Leading to Risks:Misfit of side or lock rings to the wheel base, often caused by mismatched or worn components, can result in explosion. External factors, such as sudden deflation or operation with under-inflated tyres, also contribute to rim assembly failure.

Safety Precautions:

• Always use safety cages or restraint devices during tyre inflation or deflation.
• Never reach into the cage during these processes, positioning the body to the side.
• Avoid positioning the head or body in front of the rim during inflation or deflation.
• Use recommended tools to avoid rim damage and wear protective gear.
• Implement a regular tyre maintenance schedule, checking tyres for condition, pressure, tread depth, wear patterns, and rims for corrosion or cracking.
• Follow recommended tyre servicing procedures and ensure trained workers adhere to them, including proper placement of the side or lock ring split opposite the valve stem slot.