Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/34501
WARNINGS! IMPORTANT: BE SURE TO READ THIS SAFETY INFORMATION. Make sure that everyone who services tires or vehicles in your operation has read and understands these warnings. SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH CAN RESULT FROM FAILURE TO FOLLOW SAFETY WARNINGS. No matter how well any tire is constructed, punctures, impact damage, improper inflation, improper maintenance, or service factors may cause tire failure creating a risk of property damage and serious or fatal injury. Truck operators should examine their tires frequently for snags, bulges, excessive treadwear, separations, or cuts. If such conditions appear, demount the tire and see a truck dealer immediately. The US Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) provides regulations and publications for safe operating procedures in the servicing of rim wheels. Please refer to OSHA Standard 29 CFR Part 1910.177 (Servicing Multi-Piece and Single Piece Rim Wheels). This can be found in the Section Nine, Appendix (Pages 136-137). Specifically, note that the employer shall provide a program to train all employees who service rim wheels in the hazards involved in servicing those rim wheels and the safety procedures to be followed. The employer shall ensure that no employee services any rim wheel unless the employee has been trained and instructed in correct procedures of servicing the type of wheel being serviced, and shall establish safe operating procedures for such service. Michelin ® provides the following information to further assist employers to comply with that initiative. Tire and rim servicing can be dangerous and must be done only by trained personnel using proper tools and procedures. Failure to read and comply with all procedures may result in serious injury or death to you or others. Re-inflation of any type of tire and rim assembly that has been operated in a run-flat or underinflated condition (80% or less of recommended operating pressure) can result in serious injury or death. The tire may be damaged on the inside and can explode while you are adding air. The rim parts may be worn, damaged, or dislodged and can explosively separate. Refer to RMA Tire Information Service Bulletin on potential “zipper ruptures” – TISB Volume 33, Number 3 (December 2007). RMA (Rubber Manufacturers Association) recommends that any tire suspected of having been run underinflated and/or overloaded must remain in the safety cage, be inflated to 20 psi OVER maximum air pressure marked on the sidewall, and then be inspected. Do not exceed the maximum inflation pressure for the rim or wheel. Be sure to reduce pressure to regular operating pressure before placing back in service if the tire has been deemed serviceable. Use of starting fluid, ether, gasoline, or any other flammable material to lubricate, seal, or seat the beads of a tubeless tire can cause the tire to explode or can cause the explosive separation of the tire/rim assembly resulting in serious injury or death. The use of any flammable material during tire servicing is absolutely prohibited. Any inflated tire mounted on a rim contains explosive energy. The use of damaged, mismatched, or improperly assembled tire/rim parts can cause the assembly to burst apart with explosive force. If you are struck by an exploding tire, rim part, or the air blast, you can be seriously injured or killed. Re-assembly and inflation of mismatched parts can result in serious injury or death. Just because parts fit together does not mean that they belong together. Check for proper matching of all rim parts before putting any parts together. Mismatching tire and rim component is dangerous. A mismatched tire and rim assembly may explode and can result in serious injury or death. This warning applies to any combination of mismatched components and rim combinations. Never assemble a tire and rim unless you have positively identified and correctly matched the parts. 16 Section Two: Mounting the Tire