handling tyres, wheels, castors l
In this month’s Fact File column from the Fork Lift Truck Association, we examine the important issue of tyres – how to select, fit, assess and maintain them.
Rubber soul A
s the only part of a fork lift truck which maintains contact with the ground, tyres play a crucial role in safe and efficient
operations. They provide the grip for movement, the friction for braking and an element of suspension for safety and operator comfort.
Selection and fitting
Initial tyre selection is important as using the wrong tyres for your application is potentially dangerous and expensive.
The choice of tyre will depend on the type of truck and the working environment. Your fork lift truck dealer will advise on this and, if needs be, obtain further specialist advice from an industrial tyre manufacturer or supplier. Tyres must only be fitted or repaired by a fully trained engineer.
Maintenance
Tyres for fork lift trucks – like their automotive counterparts – are vulnerable to damage which can lead to serious accidents. Tyres in poor condition or, in the case of pneumatic tyres, under or over inflated, may adversely affect the truck’s stability placing life and load at risk. Regulation 5 of the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER 98) states: “Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair”. This is primarily to ensure that the equipment is safe, but it also has implications for productivity. A sound system of daily and pre-shift checks is the cornerstone of good tyre maintenance. This ensures that potential defects are identified before they become a problem.
52 ShD December 2011
www.PressOnShD.com Assessing wear
Tyre wear can be difficult to assess. Ensuring your tyres are in good condition is vital for safety. If you are in any doubt advice should be sought from the truck supplier. Pneumatic tyres must have a minimum of 1mm of tread over the centre 75% of tread around the complete circumference. Solid rubber resilient tyres may be used until they are worn to the wear indicator, also known as the 60J line. For an illustration of the 60J line see Fact Sheet 20 (shown).
Press-On Band, Moulded Direct and Conical Base Tyres may be used until two-thirds of the original thickness remains. They should be changed if there is any sign of damage, deformation or the tyre coming away from the wheel.
Not all tyres have a tread. Some tyres that do can be re-grooved, but this should only be done professionally, in accordance with the tyre manufacturer’s instructions and never below the 60J line.
Tyre condition
should also be monitored as part of regular, preventative maintenance. Guidance on this can be
provided by the fork lift truck dealer who provided the equipment.
Action should be taken to
replace damaged or worn tyres without delay.
Free fact sheet
A free fact sheet covering this topic, alongside a host of others answering common fork lift truck queries, can be
downloaded at
www.fork-
truck.org.uk/fact-sheets. The inspection documents section of the website ‘shop’ has an inexpensive Daily Check book which is ideal for recording pre shift checks. ●
www.fork-truck.org.uk
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