The Industrial Tyre Association (ITA) has issued a new guidance note about the fitting of industrial solid tires using tire presses.
The industry association, reports Tyres & Accessories, said it was keen to raise standards in the industry after hearing incidences of serious injuries caused by the incorrect use of tire presses. As a result, the ITA became involved with a working group, consisting of industrial tire fitters and trade bodies, as well as the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), to form a best practice approach.
As part of this process, the working group looked at all aspects of the use of tire presses and produced a full risk analysis of every potential hazard. One of the recommendations to emerge is that the welding leg spiders traditionally used with tire presses should no longer be used; in its place the T-section spider be used.
“Many experts in the tire fitting industry recognised the need to raise professionalism and standardize the industry approach to the fitting of industrial tires,” explains ITA vice chair Clive Green. “We wanted to make the best practice overt so that fitters and users are aware of the risks and adopt a standardized best practice approach as a safeguard against potential hazards.”
ITA chair Len Sambrook reports that “one of the biggest hazards when using a static or mobile tire press is the high pressures involved. If a piece of metal flies off a press under a pressure of 10,000 psi, it has the same power as a bullet and can cause significant damage to someone. The HSE is aware of the hazards and risks associated with using tyre presses and fully endorses the guidance note ITA has produced."
The 22-page guide contains information on potential hazards, training guidelines, the correct tools and equipment to use, procedures for fitting and removing industrial tires, and safety requirements. Further information can be obtained from the ITA Web site at www.industrialtyres.org.
