1910.177(d)(4): Air Line Assembly for Inflating Tires
Employers must provide and make sure workers use an air line assembly for tire inflation that has a clip-on chuck, an in-line valve with a pressure gauge or presettable regulator, and enough hose between the chuck and in-line valve to let the worker stand outside the trajectory.
Key takeaways
- 1910.177(d)(4) is part of OSHA's general industry standards (29 CFR Part 1910, Subpart N).
- OSHA cited it 12 times in the last 3 years, in 10 inspections, with $26,435 in current penalties.
- 1 death is linked to inspections that cited this rule.
- Most citations: NE (3), IA (2), MO (2).
- Related part: 1910.177(d) Tire servicing equipment (60 citations).
- Free 5-minute toolbox talk for your crew below.
In this article
What this rule covers
29 CFR 1910.177(d)(4) is one requirement inside 1910.177 Servicing multi-piece and single piece rim wheels, an OSHA general industry standard (Part 1910, Subpart N). It includes 3 sub-paragraphs. The official text below is copied word for word from the Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (eCFR). The numbers, injury cases and training on this page show how OSHA enforces it on real job sites.
Official text
(4) The employer shall furnish and assure that an air line assembly consisting of the following components be used for inflating tires: 12 citations
(i) A clip-on chuck; 1 citations
(ii) An in-line valve with a pressure gauge or a presettable regulator; and Open (d)(4)(ii) 6 citations
(iii) A sufficient length of hose between the clip-on chuck and the in-line valve (if one is used) to allow the employee to stand outside the trajectory. 1 citations
Source: eCFR, text current as of 2026-10-15. Read all of 1910.177.
Injuries linked to this rule
1 death is linked to inspections where OSHA cited 1910.177(d)(4).
At 12:42 p.m. on August 5, 2024, an employee was filling dump truck tires with air. The employee was filling up a tire with air, but not in a tire cage. When the tire blew, it struck the employee in the head, killing him.
Where and how often it was cited
| Year | Citations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 4 |
| 2026 | 5 |
Top states: NE (3), IA (2), MO (2), NC (1), ME (1)
Largest penalties
| Employer | Location | Penalty for this rule |
|---|---|---|
| SULLIVAN TIRE | SHAWMUT, ME | $7,259 |
| NITCO LLC | LITTLETON, MA | $7,000 |
| A-EXPERT TIRE & SERVICE, INC. | FORT MYERS, FL | $4,965 |
| RANDY'S TIRE AND REPAIR | MANSFIELD, MO | $3,476 |
| ROOD'S TIRE CENTER, LLC | SIDNEY, NE | $2,979 |
Free toolbox talk
A 5-minute crew talk on 1910.177(d)(4), plus alerts when this rule changes. Free.
OSHA interpretation letters
None exist. OSHA has not published a letter of interpretation for 1910.177(d)(4).
Related parts of this rule
- 1910.177(d) Tire servicing equipment 60 citations
- 1910.177(d)(5) 25 citations
- 1910.177(d)(2) 17 citations
- 1910.177(d)(4)(ii) 6 citations
Get your crew competent
Trainers on Black Belt Safety: Marc Harvey, Dana Reyes
Trainers and suppliers: feature your business on this rule for $25/month.
Frequently asked questions
What parts must the air line assembly have?
A clip-on chuck, an in-line valve with a pressure gauge or presettable regulator, and enough hose length.
Why the long hose?
To allow the employee to stand outside the trajectory.
Who must provide the assembly?
The employer must furnish it and assure it is used.
About this page
Sources
- 29 CFR 1910.177 (eCFR), text current as of 2026-10-15
- U.S. Department of Labor enforcement data: OSHA inspections, citations and accident records, copied nightly; data as of 2026-10-22
3-year window. Federal OSHA only; state-plan rules are not counted. Plain-language text is a summary, not legal advice; the official text controls. Black Belt Safety is not part of OSHA or the Department of Labor.