The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently issued a combined 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 the tire manufacturing facility in Macon, Georgia. The three companies collectively face $523,895 in proposed penalties.
OSHA cited Kumho Tire Georgia Inc. 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; not training employees on energy-control procedures; and not providing machine guarding on various pieces of equipment throughout the facility. The proposed penalties total $507,299.
OSHA initiated the follow-up inspection of the tire manufacturer after the agency did not receive abatement documents regarding a June 2017 inspection and citations. The agency has now placed Kumho Tire Georgia Inc. in the severe violator enforcement program.
OSHA also cited Sae Joong Mold Inc. for using damaged slings and electrical hazards, with proposed penalties totaling $9,093. In addition, the agency cited J-Brothers Inc. for exposing employees to smoke inhalation and burn hazards by failing to mount portable fire extinguishers and not performing annual maintenance on fire extinguishers. The proposed penalties total $7,503.
“Potential workplace hazards must be assessed and eliminated to ensure a safe work environment,” said William Fulcher, OSHA’s Atlanta area director. “This employer exposed workers to multiple safety and health deficiencies that put them at risk for serious or fatal injuries.”
The companies have 15 business days from receipt of the citations and proposed penalties to comply, request an informal conference with OSHA’s area director or contest the findings before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
For more information, visit www.osha.gov.
