Boss refuses to change worn tires on work van
Employees are required to operate dangerous company equipment, such as work vans with severely worn tires or damaged ladders, because bosses refuse to provide replacements. Even though management is fully aware of the poor conditions, they withhold necessary maintenance, leaving workers unsure and worried about whether they should continue using the gear.
What the numbers show
Counted from the threads quoted below. How we count
- The most recent one is from November 2026.
- This comes up 39.2× more often in r/Roofing than across the site as a whole.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
Found another way around this?
Share your steps and trade-offs so fellow engineers don't have to reinvent the wheel. No account required.
- 1escalating the issue to the HR departmentDid this help you?
- 2Destroying the damaged equipment (e.g., with a saw or a truck) so no one can use it.Did this help you?
- 3Refusing to do the work until safe equipment is provided.Did this help you?
- 4Reporting the violation to OSHA or the company's safety department.Did this help you?
- 5Securing the bottom of the equipment or buying replacement parts to make it work in a pinch.Did this help you?
In their words
Unedited, grouped by where they were said, most upvoted first within each place, each linked to the thread it came from.
“I’m required to drive this van for work and all 4 tyres look like this. Unsure how far gone they are but the owner refuses to change them.”source ↗
“I don’t mess with my ladders anymore.”source ↗
“As a roofer: I've done worse.”source ↗
“Both my bosses are aware of the condition but haven’t gotten a new ladder. Should I not be worried to use it again for the other tank?”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 27Is it safe to keep driving with needle bearings in the transmission pan?
- 2Is it safe to drive a car with front-end damage in heavy rain?
- 4Is it safe to drive with broken shock absorbers?
- 2Will custom modifications like a flat bed pass safety inspection?
- 2Has anyone else experienced road rage during school drop-off?
- 10Why does my car drive sideways down the road?