It Really Happened: Don’t Get It Twisted

Details

• Corporate Authors:
  Washington (State). Department of Labor and Industries
• Description:
  Removing and installing wheels on tractor-trailers is no small feat. Some truck mechanics have done this so often they begin to overlook the risks. This happened to a 38-year-old mechanic who tore the cartilage in his left knee while installing a tractor wheel after a routine brake job. The mechanic rolled one of the loose dual wheels toward the rear tandem axle, leaning it against a hub. He then grabbed a long pinch bar to slide under the sheel to lift it around the hub. Squatting down, he pulled the bar handle up with his right hand, using his body weight to shoulder the wheel toward the studs. As he wrestled the heavy wheel into place, he felt his left knee twist and fill with pain. After two days of nonstop pain, he finally went to the doctor. X-rays showed that he had torn the cartilage of the meniscus in his knee. Requiring surgery, the mechanic spent several months recovering before he could work again. TIPS TO LIVE BY: Management-Purchase a truck hydraulic dual wheel dolly, so mechanics won't use a pinch bar and their physical strength to remove and install wheels. Train truck mechanic sin your procedures to remove and install wheels safely. Mechanics-Make sure to support vehicle axles on heavy duty jack stands with appropriate lifting capacity before installing or removing wheels. Clear the work floor of tools, parts, grease, and other slip and trip hazards. Use a serviceable truck wheel dolly to remove, lower, lift, and install wheels. Secure loose wheel with a chain or strap and support it on the dolly forks before removal. Keep removed wheels in a safe area until they are ready to reinstall. When reinstalling wheels, remove the dolly only after securing the wheel on a couple of axle studs. Never use a damaged wheel dolly or other unserviceable tools and equipment. All Employees: Actively look for hazards and share injury prevention ideas with management. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Accidental Falls Accidents Environmental Exposure Occupational Health Personal Protective Equipment Preventive Medicine Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety
• Keywords:
  Exposure Levels Hydraulic Equipment Injury Prevention Mechanics Personal Protection Personal Protective Equipment PPE Preventive Measures Protective Measures Risk Factors Safety Equipment Safety Measures Slips, Trips, And Falls STF Truck Drivers

  More +
• Publisher:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Cooperative Agreement
• Genre:
  Handout/Flyer
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 10 ; Washington
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20059971
• Citation:
  Olympia, WA: Washington State Department of Labor and Industries, 90-143-2020, 2020 Jun; :1
• Contact Point Address:
  SHARP Program, TIRES Project, Department of Labor & Industries, PO Box 4330, Olympia, WA 98504
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2020
• Performing Organization:
  Washington State Department of Labor and Industries
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  It really happened: don't get it twisted
• End Date:
  20260630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:5187bec622fef017ffde17f8480bf0a95935fa7b529ff18b30619b4954833ab31275958f5933bcaea3eede3a4846523be6bc3cbbf92e3713cdfba271f61b47c4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/224020/cdc_224020_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 730.92 KB ]