DEBARKING DRUM TIRE BLOWOUT INJURES TWO

June 2003
03-S-8

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BACKGROUND: Two chip mill employees were replacing a tire on a chip mill debarking drum on a cold winter night in the South. The employees had been working long hours in order to get caught up on maintenance work.

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS: Both employees were relatively inexperienced, each with no more than one year at the chip mill. The two employees had received little training specific to changing the drum tires but had previously demonstrated safe behavior. One of the employees failed a drug screen following the incident.

UNSAFE ACT OR CONDITIONS: Catch-up maintenance work was being conducted at an inopportune time in preparation for an audit. The tire was being replaced at 10:00 pm during very cold weather. Bead sealer was applied after the tire was installed, resulting in improper seating. The employees had their hands near the tire while it was being inflated.

ACCIDENT: The employees had worked the tire in place and were attempting to air it up to the required 110-120 pounds of pressure. The tire blew off the rim while the employees were wiping off excess sealer.

INJURY: Both employees' hands were lacerated when the tire blew. One employee required 20 stitches and the other 2 stitches.

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR CORRECTION: Tires should be installed with the bead sealer already applied to the tire and the tire seated properly before airing the tire up. Employees should remain a safe distance away from the tire while airing it up, and should be able to monitor the air pressure gauge from that distance. At this chip mill, inflation hoses have since been installed with the pressure gauge 12 feet from the drum.

Routine maintenance should be conducted during more favorable time and weather conditions when possible.

Forest Resources Association Inc.
600 Jefferson Plaza, Suite 350, Rockville, Maryland 20852
Phone: (301) 838-9385     Fax: (301) 838-9481