had an inflation pressure of 105 pounds per square
inch; however, as the tire was flat and in the process
of being repaired, it is unknown what the pressure
of the tire was at the time of rupture. The driver was
knocked back by the force of the pressurized air
release, striking his head on the concrete floor,
according to the mechanic present at the time. The
decedent landed on his back with his head
approximately 12 feet away from the tire.
The maintenance area was a closed bay area where
drivers were not authorized to enter, and drivers
were not generally responsible for the maintenance
of their trucks. However, due in part to some of the
trucks being owned by independent
owner/operators who wanted their drivers to be able
to observe and assist in maintenance and repair of
their trucks, drivers oftentimes entered the
maintenance area while their trucks were under
repair.
Mechanics at the company received yearly and quarterly training on safety and health issues
related to truck maintenance. The mechanic present at the time of the rupture stood next to the
tire instead of in front of it. This, in addition to him being located on the opposite end of the tire
from where the sidewall failed, led to him being
unharmed by the pressurized air release following
the rupture. Blown tires were not uncommon, per the
interviewee. The mechanic who had left to get the
plug kit noted in the MIOSHA investigation that he
had seen sidewall failures before on retreaded tires.
The training the mechanics received and their
experience with tire failures likely contributed to the
mechanic present surviving the incident unharmed,
and might have helped prevent the driver’s death
should he have been similarly trained.
Following the tire rupture, the mechanic who had
left to retrieve the plug kit contacted emergency
services. The decedent was transported to a local
hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
After the incident, the employer instituted new
policies regarding drivers’ access to the maintenance
bay. Combination locks were installed on the
entrances to the service area, while training was
Figure 3: Ruptured tire sidewall
Figure 2: Metal debris stuck in tire