OSHA Heavily Fines Tire Manufacturer
OSHA launched the follow-up inspection of the tire manufacturer after the agency did not receive abatement documents regarding a June 2017 inspection and citations. OSHA has now placed Kumho Tire Georgia Inc. in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
OSHA announced it has issued a total of 22 citations to Kumho Tire Georgia Inc., Sae Joong Mold Inc., and J-Brothers Inc. after a follow-up inspection found safety and health hazards at a tire manufacturing facility in Macon, Ga. The three companies collectively face $523,895 in proposed penalties.
The bulk of the penalties, $507,299, were issued to Kumho Tire Georgia Inc., which OSHA cited for exposing employees to fall, struck-by, and burn hazards; failing to follow hazardous energy control procedures when employees performed service and maintenance on machinery; failing to train employees on energy control procedures; and failing to provide machine guarding on various pieces of equipment throughout the facility.
The agency's May 29 announcement said OSHA launched the follow-up inspection of the tire manufacturer after OSHA did not receive abatement documents regarding a June 2017 inspection and citations. OSHA has now placed Kumho Tire Georgia Inc. in its Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
OSHA cited Sae Joong Mold Inc. for using damaged slings and electrical hazards, with proposed penalties totaling $9,093, and cited J-Brothers Inc. for exposing employees to smoke inhalation and burn hazards by failing to mount portable fire extinguishers and failing to perform annual maintenance on fire extinguishers. Proposed penalties to J-Brothers Inc. total $7,503.
"Potential workplace hazards must be assessed and eliminated to ensure a safe work environment," said OSHA Atlanta-East Area Director William Fulcher. "This employer exposed workers to multiple safety and health deficiencies that put them at risk for serious or fatal injuries."