STEVE'S TIRE & AUTO

BACKHOE TIRE EXPLODED WHILE BEING INFLATED; EMPLOYEE STRUCK

EMPLOYEE #1 WAS MOUNTING A LARGE BACKHOE TIRE (LOW PRESSURE) ON ITS RIM. THE TIR E WAS TOO LARGE TO BE PLACED ON THE TIRE CHANGING MACHINE, SO IT WAS BEING MOUNT ED ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. THE EMPLOYEE DID NOT PLACE THE TIRE IN THE RESTRAINING D EVICE (CAGE), OR BEHIND A BARRIER, OR ONTO THE BACKHOE. HE PARTIALLY INFLATED TH E TIRE TO SEAT THE BEAD ONTO THE RIM, PARTIALLY DEFLATED THE TIRE TO ALLOW THE T UBE TO SEAT PROPERLY INSIDE THE TIRE AND THEN CHECKED THE BEAD SEATING ON BOTH S IDES. HE THEN BEGAN TO INFLATE THE TIRE TO 40 PSI, USING A SAFETY AIR CHECK. HE STOOD TWO OR THREE FEET FROM THE TIRE. THE BOTTOM BEAD OF THE TIRE SLIPPED OFF T HE RIM. THE SUDDEN RELEASE OF PRESSURE AGAINST THE GARAGE FLOOR PUSHED THE TIRE UPWARD AND TOWARD EMPLOYEE #1. HE WAS STRUCK AROUND THE HEAD AND UPPER BODY, SUF FERING INJURIES TO HIS FACE, HEAD, HAND, ARM AND UPPER BODY.