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An employee of a tyre maintenance company has been seriously injured following the explosion of a tyre.

The worker had been sent to a Beeston, Nottinghamshire waste and recycling centre with an excavator that needed a change of tyres. The employee of Tyre Maintenance Ltd visited the centre on September 24, where he attempted to remove two split rim tyres. An explosion occurred on the front nearside of the excavator, forcing the tyre fitter to be pushed more than two metres back and collide into a metal fence. He sustained severe injuries, including one to his head that he has still not recovered from.

Nottingham Crown Court heard that an investigation into the incident had been launched by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). The investigation found that no safe system of work had been in place at the time of the incident and an inadequate risk assessment was in place to highlight the specific risks associated with split rims. The company was unable to prove that sufficient training had been provided, or that the workers were sufficiently competent. The company was fined £134,000 and ordered to pay costs of £22,582.

Lyn Spooner, inspector for HSE, said that working with split rim tyres involved specific risks. She added that employees should have been instructed to deflate the tyres fully before removing them from the excavator.

 

Although ensuring the safety of employees may often require the use of PPE, the provision of adequate training is also crucial in preventing serious injury at work.

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