An OSHA investigation has discovered that Kumho Tire Georgia Inc. could have prevented the death of a 57-year-old maintenance worker. The incident occurred in April 2024 when a worker was fatally injured after the machine they were working on unexpectedly started. According to OSHA, the tire manufacturing facility has a history of safety and health violations. Since 2015, the facility has been inspected nine times, resulting in 52 violations. In its most recent investigation, OSHA found that Kumho Tire Georgia bypassed safety procedures meant to prevent machinery from accidentally starting during maintenance. Additionally, the company:
- Failed to properly train employees on how to safely perform servicing and maintenance activities
- Did not have sufficient machine guarding at its facility
- Exposed workers to fall hazards
The agency cited Kumho Tire Georgia for one repeat, 12 serious, and two other-than-serious violations. Because of these violations, the company faces $271,930 in penalties.
What people are saying
In a recent quote, OSHA Area Director Joshua Turner said, “Kumho Tire Georgia has repeatedly failed to protect its employees, and this time that negligence resulted in a preventable tragedy. Every year, thousands of these incidents occur, causing serious and sometimes fatal injuries. There is no excuse for endangering the lives of the employees who keep their operations running.”
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