Hot work on wheels

Hot work should never be done on wheels until after the tyre is removed.

Under no circumstances should hot work be carried out on any wheel to which a tyre is fitted. Hot work is any process that generates flames, sparks or heat. It includes welding, cutting, grinding and sawing and particularly the application of heat to free rusted on bolts etc.

When a wheel rim or other steel part of a vehicle wheel is subjected to heat, there is a risk that any tyre (inflated or deflated) attached to it will explode. This can be caused by ignition of the vapours in the tyre, or from degrading of the rubber or lubricating oils. Explosions can even occur later during re-inflation because of the additional oxygen available and the reduction in temperature at which ignition occurs (because of higher pressures).

The inflation of tyres with nitrogen does not make hot work on wheels safe. The tyre can become partially pressurised with air because of inadequate purging at the start of inflation or because air is used to top up pressure.

There have been a number of fatal accidents where heat has been applied to wheels where the tyre was still attached.  It is particularly hazardous with large wheels.

Both of the following You Tube videos shows a weld on a large wheel being undertaken in controlled conditions and shows the build up of temperature and pressure within the tyre and the resulting consequences.

YouTube Videos - Hot Work

Both of the following You Tube videos shows welding on large wheels being undertaken in controlled conditions. The monitors show the build up of temperature and pressure within the tyre and the devastating consequences of the tyre explosion and/or wheel disintegration.


Disclaimer[48]

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  1. Motor vehicle repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/index.htm
  2. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/introduction.htm
  3. Overview - Common MVR topicshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/index.htm
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  5. Choosing the correct gloveshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/gloves.htm
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  8. Falls from heighthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/falls.htm
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  10. Fluoroelastomershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/fluoroelastomers.htm
  11. General COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/general-coshh.htm
  12. Hand-arm vibrationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/vibration.htm
  13. Harmful dusts - Inhalation and Dermatitis riskshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/dusts.htm
  14. Manual handlinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/manual.htm
  15. Noisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/noise.htm
  16. Safety in the use of two-post vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/fallofflifts.htm
  17. Slips and tripshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/slips.htm
  18. Storing and handling airbagshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/storing-handling-airbags-seat-belt.htm
  19. Struck by...https://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/struckby.htm
  20. Updated guidance on vehicle liftshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/updated-guidance-on-vehicle-lifts.htm
  21. Used engine oilhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/oil.htm
  22. Workplace transporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/topics/transport.htm
  23. Overview - Bodyshopshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/index.htm
  24. 2-pack isocyanate paintshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/isocyanates.htm
  25. Bodyshop mythshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/myths/index.htm
  26. COSHH essential sheetshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/coshh-paintspraying.htm
  27. Measuring paint spray booth clearance timehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/bodyshop/cleartime.htm
  28. Overview - Mechanical repairhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/index.htm
  29. Asbestoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/asbestos.htm
  30. Hot work on wheelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/hot-work-on-wheels.htm
  31. Tyre removal, replacement and inflationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/tyreremoval.htm
  32. Vehicle exhaust emissions (Diesel)https://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/exhaust.htm
  33. Welding and flamecuttinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/welding.htm
  34. Wheel and tyre explosionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/wheel-and-tyres.htm
  35. Working under vehicleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/under-vehicles.htm
  36. Overview - Roadside repair and recoveryhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/index.htm
  37. Automotive glazinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/glazing.htm
  38. Essential precautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/essential-precautions.htm
  39. Repair or recovery of buses and coaches fitted with air suspensionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/roadside-repair/buses.htm
  40. Overview - Resourceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/index.htm
  41. COSHH essentialshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/essentials/direct-advice/mvr.htm
  42. Overview - Statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/statistics/index.htm
  43. Ill health statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/statistics/illhealthstats.htm
  44. Injury statisticshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/statistics/injurystats.htm
  45. Useful external websiteshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/links.htm
  46. Videoshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/resources/videos/index.htm
  47. Contactshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/contact.htm
  48. Disclaimerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/disclaimer.htm
  49. Health and safety in motor vehicle repair and associated industrieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg261.htm
  50. Tyre removal, replacement and inflationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/tyreremoval.htm
  51. Fatal accident during maintenance on multipiece vehicle wheel with pneumatic tyreshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/MVR/mechanical-repair/wheel-and-tyres.htm

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

MVR
Motor Vehicle Repair
COSHH
Control Of Substances Hazardous to Health

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Updated 2022-05-22