RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.

UNION SECTION
LOW PROFILE - PROJECTS
STANDARD PRACTICE – CODE 4 REF. NO. 4.13

TYRE / WHEEL CHANGING

OBJECTIVE

To provide Artisans, Technicians, Aides, Operators and Engineering personnel with guidelines and the
procedure to be followed when flat tyres are reported or it is necessary to change wheels on any vehicle.

4.13.1 SURFACE CONTROL

1. The operator of any machine which has a flat tyre underground will report such to the radio controller
and the Technician on duty.

2. It is the responsibility of the Workshop / Contracts Manager and Engineering Foreman to ensure that
there is a spare wheel readily available for each type of machine under his control.

3. When a flat wheel is reported (ADT or LHD)) to the Technician in charge. He will liase with the
Tramming Shift Supervisor. An LHD will be made available at the discretion of the Shift Supervisor
to transport the spare wheel to the site and to lift the vehicle to change the wheel.

4. Operators who are required to inflate tyres on surface will be: -

i. Protected by means of a steel screen whilst doing so.

ii. Trained and instructed on optimum tyre pressures to be used for each specific machine.
iii. Able to identify leaking tyre valves – badly worn or damaged tyres in order to report these to the
Engineering Foreman.

5. Accurate tyre cost records for each specific machine will be kept by the Engineer in order to ensure
an effective cost control and reasonable spare stock level is maintained.

6. The crane in the workshop will lift vehicles such as LHD’s and ADT’s. A trestle will be
placed under the axle of the machine and the wheel will be replaced.
 RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.
UNION SECTION
LOW PROFILE - PROJECTS
STANDARD PRACTICE – CODE 4 REF. NO. 4.13

TYRE / WHEEL CHANGING

4.13.2 UNDERGROUND WHEEL REPLACEMENT

ADT’s and LHD’s wheels which are required to be replaced underground will be changed in the
following manner: -
i. The machine will be parked on a level surface – if necessary driven slowly to such a site. The
operator is responsible to set reflective warning triangles 120m on either side of the vehicle.
ii. All wheels except for the one to be changed will be blocked to prevent movement.
iii. The replacement wheel will be secured by means of 10mm chain to prevent it from
falling over onto persons engaged in the changing operations.
iv. The LHD operator will insert bucket lip under the vehicles chassis and lift the machine, which is to
have its wheel changed. (The Engineer and Workshop / Contracts Manager will instruct Technicians /
Artisan as to where and how the LHD scoop lip must be inserted under the machine to lift it).
v. No persons other than those required to place a trestle under the axle are permitted to stand closer
than an LHD length to the lifted machine.
vi. Once the trestle is in position the flat wheel will be removed, moved away from the work site and
laid flat onto the footwall or secured by chains if kept in an upright position.
vii. The replacement wheel will be rolled into position and the wheel studs fastened.
viii. The LHD will lift the vehicle in order to remove the trestle. The flat wheel and trestle will be loaded
by the LHD and transported to the surface workshop.
ix. Wheel studs will be tightened and the machine can now resume work.
x. Where ADT’s with a full load have a flat wheel it is necessary that the load be tipped prior to the
wheel changing being attempted. When this occurs far away from the tip area the ADT will be tipped
where directed by the Tramming Shift Supervisor.

1. Changing of wheels on vehicles such as drill rigs, roofbolters, utility, gopher, light delivery vehicles
and scalers will be conducted in the following manner: -

i. The vehicle will be parked on a level surface.

 RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.
UNION SECTION
LOW PROFILE - PROJECTS
STANDARD PRACTICE – CODE 4 REF. NO. 4.13

TYRE / WHEEL CHANGING

ii. Chocks will be used to block all wheels except for the wheel to be changed as directed by the
Engineer.
iii. The machine will be lifted by means of a jack placed under the axle of the wheel to be changed. The
jack used and placement thereof will be as per Engineers specifications.
iv. The replacement wheel will be transported to the machine by means of an LDV or Utility vehicle.
v. Once the wheel is replaced the removed wheel will be brought to surface and repaired.
vi. Where the wheel changing operation takes place in or near to the main trucking routes warning
triangles will be set 120metres on either side of the work site.
vii. The operator of the machine will assist the Technician / Artisan to change wheels and it is his
responsibility to ensure that the warning triangles are displayed.
viii. The operator of the machine will satisfy himself that the wheel nuts securing the replaced wheel are
tight before the Artisans leave the work site.
ix. An endeavour must be made by the operator and the engineering staff to establish what the cause of
the flat tyre was – if possible action must be taken to prevent a re occurrence.
x. No persons must be permitted to go under any vehicles chassis, which has been lifted up unless the
approved trestles are in place.

4.13.1 GENERAL

1. The Contract/ Workshop Manager, Technician, Engineering Foreman, and Artisans will ensure that
operators comply with the Engineers recommended tyre pressures for each specific vehicle. A notice
board depicting required / recommended tyre pressures will be prominently displayed at the tyre pump.
Tyre pressures will be checked when the machine is serviced.

2. The Technician, Aide or Artisan will take chocks for immobilising wheels approved by the Engineer
underground together with the spare wheel when it is necessary to change a wheel underground.

3. Where LHD’s are used to lift LHD’s or ADT’s in order to change wheels the Workshop / Contracts
Manager and the Engineer will ensure that the persons involved have specific written instructions as
to how this operation will take place.

4. Wheel storage on surface will be done as directed by the Workshop / Contracts Manager and the
Engineer. Spare wheels will be secured as prescribed by the Engineer in an upright position and
prevented from inadvertently falling onto persons.
 RUSTENBURG PLATINUM MINES LTD.
UNION SECTION
LOW PROFILE - PROJECTS
STANDARD PRACTICE – CODE 4 REF. NO. 4.13

TYRE / WHEEL CHANGING

5. The loading, unloading and placement of wheels will take place under the direct supervision of an
Appointed person. Tyre contractors will at all times comply with his instructions. He will issue written
instructions to such companies, which they will acknowledge by signing for them.

APPROVED :

ENGINEER :……………………………….. DATE :…………………………

B.A.M. PROJECTS :………………………………. DATE :………………………….

REVISED STANDARD NO : ……………………………… DATE : ………………………..

MF / TS EFFECTIVE DATE :……/……../………