Page 55 - HIL Operatives Training Manual V4 16022024_Neat

O P E R A T I V E S T R A I N I N G M A N U A L V E R S I O N 4

15 Compressed Air Safety
Explosive Energy

Inflated tyres contain a large amount of stored energy. For example, the sidewall of a typical
commercial vehicle (CV) tyre has over 34 tonnes of force acting on it. Tyres are designed to
withstand this but if they are damaged or used while flat, or significantly underinflated, they
may fail.

The force can then be released explosively at an angle of up to 45 degrees from the rupture
(which is often, but not always, the face of the sidewall), resulting in a destructive air blast and
the ejection of high-speed particles that can cause serious injuries or even death.

If the wheel is not restrained, it can fly metres through the air. Similarly, failure of multi-piece
(‘split rim’) wheels can result in explosive ejection of component parts. These types of tyre
explosion have led to numerous fatalities.

A standard size truck
tyre contains sufficient

explosive force to lift a

typical passenger
vehicle three metres off

the ground!

Use a clip-on type connector
when inflating tyres with
enough hose to get out of
the trajectory of any
potential explosion

Compressed air is
often misjudged and
not recognized as a
hazard because people
often think of air as
harmless.CAUTION:
SERIOUS INJURY MAY
OCCUR!

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