Rim-wheel chart alternatives for tire servicing

December 21, 2004

Mr. Larry Lampe

Director of Training

Pomp's Tire Service

[Recipient address omitted]

Dear Mr. Lampe:

Thank you for your letter to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Office of Communications. Your letter has been transferred to the Directorate of Enforcement Programs (DEP) Office of General Industry Enforcement for a response to your question regarding OSHA's standard 29 CFR 1910.177 Servicing multi-piece and single piece rim wheels. Specifically, you had concerns about the availability of two charts, Multi-piece Rim Matching and Demounting and Mounting Procedures for Truck/Bus Tires.

Both charts are no longer being printed by the Government Printing Office (GPO). However, please be advised that 29 CFR 1910.177 does allow publications such as current rim manuals containing instructions from the manufacturer or other qualified organization for correct mounting, demounting, maintenance, and safety precautions peculiar to the type of wheel being serviced as an alternative to the available charts. OSHA would not cite an employer failing to have the charts available as long as the above information is made available to employees.

OSHA is currently assessing the courses of action to take in regard to the unavailability of the aforementioned charts. As mentioned in your letter, some of the information in the charts needs to be reviewed and possibly updated. We are trying to address any revisions as well as the availability of these charts in our course of action.

Thank you for your interest in occupational safety and health. We hope you find this information helpful. Please be aware that OSHA's enforcement guidance is subject to periodic review and clarification, amplification, or correction. Such guidance could also be affected by subsequent rulemaking. In the future, should you wish to verify that the guidance provided herein remains current, you may consult OSHA's website at http://www.osha.gov. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact the Office of General Industry Enforcement at (202) 693-1850.

Sincerely,

Richard E. Fairfax, Director

Directorate of Enforcement Programs