Dynamic wheel balancers are powerful pieces of equipment. Performing wheel balancing work safely starts with common sense.
Here are a few reminders to help ensure your technicians perform quality work while minimizing any risk to themselves and fellow employees.
Check yourself -– Be sure to use protective gear. That includes safety glasses, ear protection, gloves, steel-toed shoes and appropriate shop clothing that fits. Loose clothing, like untucked shirts or loosely rolled sleeves, can get caught in the moving parts of the machinery.
Check your equipment –- Inspect the balancer equipment on a regular basis. That means making sure all the operating parts of the system are in good working order. Be sure to perform maintenance on schedule as directed by the manufacturer.
Respect the engineering -– Companies take strides in making their equipment as safe and efficient as possible. Technicians need to respect the safety features without meddling with them. Never override the balancing equipment’s safety features. Don’t remove your wheel balancer’s protective hood –- it’s there as protection if the tire should loosen or if debris flies off the tire while spinning.
Pay attention –- Be aware of what you’re doing when performing wheel balancing. That means paying attention when tightening or clamping the wheel assembly on its spindle. Pay attention to your surroundings, ensuring nothing comes near the equipment while in use. It also means using the right size of clamp-on wheel weights, so stay safe.
Choose safety over speed –- Perhaps the most important part of wheel-balancing work is balancing safety with efficiency. Make safety a priority. Skipping steps and cutting corners only increases the potential for risk.