Nottingham, UK – A tire maintenance company has been fined over £134,000 (€148,000) after a tire exploded seriously injuring a worker.
According to the UK health and safety executive (HSE), Tyre Maintenance Ltd of Leeds, West Yorkshire, was fined £134,000 and ordered to pay costs of £22,582 following a guilty plea at a hearing at Nottingham Crown Court.
An employee of the company was seriously injured on 24 Sept when he went to a waste and recycling centre in Beeston to replace tires on an excavator.
During the process of removing two split rim tires from the vehicle there was a “violent explosion” of the inner of the two wheels on the front nearside of the vehicle, HSE added.
The explosion pushed the outside tire off with such force it propelled the tire fitter into a metal fence over two metres behind.
The worker sustained serious injuries including a head injury, from which he is still recovering.
An investigation by the HSE into the incident found that the split rim had separated and was only being held in place by the opposing tire.
“When the fitter removed the last wheel nut on the outside tire it allowed the rim to separate causing the explosion,” the report added.
The HSE also found that there were inadequate risk assessments and safe systems of work in place to deal with the specific risks from split rims.
Additionally, the company could not demonstrate adequate arrangements for assessing competence, providing training and ensuring the company’s mobile tire fitters were able to work safely.
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