Tyre Safety and Emergency Response

SAFE WORK PRACTICE

TYRE SAFETY AND EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Application

To provide a standard work practice for the controlling emergencies or fires, involving vehicle and plant tyres, as required by legislation. Only competent and duly authorised personnel may undertake activities associated with the changing, maintenance, inspection and repair of tyres

Personal Protective Equipment / Special Equipment

Dependent on the work area, however the minimum requirements are detailed below:

PPE (Minimum – check SWP- PPE for correct protection)

· hearing protection

·  long hair secured

·  safety glasses

·  steel capped safety boots

·  no loose clothing

Types of Emergencies

Tyre failures may occur unexpectedly even when equipment is not in use. A tyre failure has the potential to inflict serious injury or fatality.

Tyre failures can result from:

·  lock ring failure, due to fitment of incorrect or worn lock ring

·  rim / wheel base failure, particularly in the gutter section

·  tyre explosion caused by vehicular contact with power lines, fire or externally applied heat or running under inflated

·  structural failure of the tyre resulting from operating outside design parameters (correct tyre selection, regular in-service inspection and adequate tyre maintenance is necessary)

·  Structural failure of the tyre resulting from defective manufacture (effective quality control in manufacture and regular in-service inspection is necessary.

Tyre Fires

DO NOT approach any tyre on a machine if there is a brake fire, burning rubber or other indications that the brakes on the machine generated excessive heat. In such circumstances adopt the following procedure:

·  Alight from the vehicle, but do not walk around the side of the truck. Walk directly away, from the front of the truck.

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·  The truck must then be isolated for a RADIUS of at least 250 metres and guards placed to prevent access. No-one should enter this restricted area for 24 hours. If necessary, evacuate buildings within the vicinity.

DO NOT try to fight the fire with a fire extinguisher. A fire extinguisher will have little or no effect and the risk of explosion is imminent. DO NOT use automatic fire extinguishers if there is a tyre fire.

When the fire truck or brigade arrives, they will need to know how long the fire has been burning, so that they can gauge the risk of a tyre explosion.

Hot Work – Rubber Tyred Wheels

Tyres must be removed from the rim before any hot work is carried out on a rim or hub. Heat transfer has the potential to cause failure in tyres in the same manner as fire. It is forbidden to carryout welding or hot cutting procedures near tyres, or in any position where heat may be transferred by conduction or radiation, to a tyre.

This applies equally to deflated tyres, which may explode even when deflated and if weakened may fail on re-inflation.

Hazards

· Remember that if a tyre explodes it does not mean that it will be the only tyre to explode; expect other tyres to explode and act accordingly.

·  Both the forces of the explosion and debris have the potential to inflict fatal injuries and massive property damage.

·  Instantaneous death could result purely from the air blast, inside of 2m. Severe bodily harm will occur at less than 5m distance from an exploding tyre, due solely to the air blast.

Approved by Manager/Supervisor:

Date: / / 2016

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Diesel Force 6.33 Tyre Safety and Emergency Response Revision: 2. 4th April 2013