Subpart N
No. Section 1910.177(a)(1) says the rule does not apply to the servicing of rim wheels used on automobiles or on pickup trucks and vans utilizing automobile tires or truck tires designated "LT." See also the OSHA interpretation on scope of rim wheel servicing for discussion of new tire designations and how they can affect coverage.
No. Section 1910.177(a)(2) explicitly excludes employers and places of employment regulated under 29 CFR part 1918 (Longshoring), 29 CFR part 1926 (Construction), and 29 CFR part 1928 (Agriculture).
A barrier is a fence, wall, or other object placed between a single piece rim wheel and an employee during tire inflation to contain wheel components if the contained air is suddenly released. That is the definition in 1910.177(b). Use a barrier where the standard requires it for single-piece rim wheel inflation unless the wheel is bolted on the vehicle during inflation as described in 1910.177(d)(2).
The employer must train employees in the hazards and safe procedures for servicing the specific type of rim wheel they will service. Section 1910.177(c)(1) requires a training program that covers the hazards involved and the safety procedures in this standard, and 1910.177(c)(1)(ii) requires using the applicable data in the charts or rim manuals as part of that training. If an employee cannot read the charts, the employer must instruct them in a way they can understand per 1910.177(c)(1)(iii).
Employees must demonstrate ability to perform key servicing tasks listed in 1910.177(c)(2). At a minimum they must show skills including:
Employers must evaluate each employee's ability to service rim wheels safely and provide additional training as necessary to maintain proficiency. That requirement is in 1910.177(c)(3).
A restraining device is required for inflating tires on multi-piece wheels, and it must withstand forces from a rim separation occurring at 150% of the tire's maximum specification pressure. That is required by 1910.177(d)(1) together with the strength requirement in 1910.177(d)(3)(i).
A restraining device or barrier must be provided for inflating single-piece wheels unless the rim wheel will be bolted onto the vehicle during inflation. That requirement is in 1910.177(d)(2).
Restraining devices and barriers must prevent components from being thrown beyond the device and must be visually inspected before each day's use and after any separation or sudden release of air, per 1910.177(d)(3)(ii)-(iii). Devices showing defects such as cracked welds, broken or bent parts, pitting from corrosion, or other structural damage must be removed from service as specified in 1910.177(d)(3)(iii).
Restraining devices removed for repair must not be returned to service until repaired and reinspected, and those needing structural repair (component replacement or rewelding) must be certified by the manufacturer or a Registered Professional Engineer as meeting the strength requirement in [1910.177(d)(3)(i)]. This is stated in 1910.177(d)(3)(iv).
The employer must provide an air line assembly that includes a clip-on chuck, an in-line valve with a pressure gauge or a presettable regulator, and a hose long enough for the employee to stand outside the trajectory. Those components are required by 1910.177(d)(4)(i)-(iii).
Current charts or rim manuals applicable to the wheels being serviced must be available in the service area, and only tools recommended in the rim manual for that type of wheel may be used. Those requirements are in 1910.177(d)(5) and 1910.177(d)(6).
Multi-piece components may not be interchanged except as allowed by the charts or rim manual, components and wheels must be inspected before assembly and removed/tagged unserviceable if bent, cracked, pitted or broken, valves replaced if leaky, mating surfaces must be clean and free of rust or debris, and tire and wheel sizes must be checked for compatibility. These rules are in 1910.177(e)(1)-(4).
Tires must be completely deflated by removing the valve core before demounting, and must also be deflated before removing a rim wheel from the axle when the tire has been driven at 80% or less of recommended pressure or when there is obvious or suspected damage. See 1910.177(f)(1) and 1910.177(f)(2).
Use rubber lubricant on bead and rim mating surfaces (unless the manufacturer advises otherwise), and if a vehicle tire is underinflated but above 80% of recommended pressure it may be inflated while mounted only using remote control inflation equipment with no employees in the trajectory; when inflating outside a restraining device, inflate only to the pressure necessary to seat the bead and make the assembly airtight. These requirements are in 1910.177(f)(3)-(5).
Employees must not rest or lean on a restraining device, must inspect the tire and wheel components while still inside the restraining device after inflation, and if adjustments are needed the tire must first be deflated by removing the valve core; also do not attempt to correct seating by hammering or forcing components while the tire is pressurized. See 1910.177(f)(6)-(8).
No — cracked, broken, bent, or otherwise damaged rim components must not be reworked, welded, brazed, or otherwise heated, and employees must stay out of the trajectory when multi-piece rim wheels are being handled unless the employer demonstrates the employee's presence in the trajectory is necessary. See 1910.177(f)(9)-(11).
Tires must be completely deflated by removing the valve core before demounting, mounting/demounting must be done from the narrow ledge side (avoiding bead damage), nonflammable rubber lubricant should be used unless the manufacturer advises otherwise, and if a tire changing machine is used inflate only to the minimum pressure necessary to seat the bead. These points are in 1910.177(g)(1)-(4).
If a bead expander is used it must be removed before the valve core is installed and as soon as the rim wheel becomes airtight; tires may be inflated only when contained within a restraining device, positioned behind a barrier, or bolted on the vehicle with lug nuts fully tightened; tires must not be inflated when any flat solid surface is in the trajectory and within one foot of the sidewall; and employees must stay out of the trajectory during inflation. See 1910.177(g)(5)-(8).
Tires must not be inflated to more than the inflation pressure stamped on the sidewall unless a higher pressure is recommended by the manufacturer, and they must not be inflated above the manufacturer's maximum pressure to seat the bead. Those limits are in 1910.177(g)(9)-(10).
No. Section 1910.177(g)(11)-(12) prohibits applying heat to a single-piece wheel and prohibits reworking, welding, brazing, or otherwise heating cracked, broken, bent, or otherwise damaged wheels.
OSHA's August 1, 2024 interpretation explains that while C-type tires share similarities with "LT" tires they are not identical; failure to comply with portions of 1910.177 when servicing C-type tires may be treated as a de minimis condition depending on the facts. See the OSHA interpretation "Scope of rim wheel servicing" and the 1910.177(a)(1) scope provision for guidance. Employers should evaluate whether servicing methods, equipment, and safety measures for the C-type tires are substantially similar to LT tires and consult State-plan rules if applicable.