October 16, 2024

Department of Labor cites Kumho Tire Georgia $271K in penalties, finds 15 safety violations in wake of 57-year-old worker’s fatal injury

Employer failed to use safety measure that stops machine from starting during maintenance

MACON, GA – Federal safety inspectors found a Macon tire manufacturing facility with a history of safety and health violations could have prevented the fatal injuries sustained by a 57-year-old maintenance worker in April 2024.

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigated the fatal incident at Kumho Tire Georgia Inc., which occurred on April 10, 2024, when a worker was fatally injured after the machine they were working on unexpectedly started.

OSHA cited Kumho Tire Georgia after an investigation found the company bypassed safety procedures meant to prevent machinery from accidentally starting during maintenance. The company relied on basic on/off controls and sensors instead of following proper safety measures. As a result, the company was cited for one repeat, 12 serious, and two other-than-serious violations. The company was also cited for repeatedly failing to train authorized employees to safely perform servicing and maintenance activities.

“Kumho Tire Georgia has repeatedly failed to protect its employees, and this time that negligence resulted in a preventable tragedy,” said OSHA Area Director Joshua Turner in Atlanta. “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.”

The agency found the employer’s facility lacked sufficient machine guarding, designed to protect workers from caught-in hazards. Investigators also found missing guardrails and uncovered holes, leaving workers exposed to fall hazards. Kumho Tire Georgia Inc. faces a total of $271,930 in penalties.

Kumho Tire Georgia has a substantial history of non-compliance with safety and health requirements. Since 2015, the facility has been inspected nine times, resulting in 52 violations.

Located in Macon, Kumho Tire Georgia is a Chinese and Korean-owned tire manufacturer that employs approximately 560 workers from both Korea and the U.S. The facility has been in operation in the U.S. since 2016.

The employer has 15 business days from receipt of the citations and 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.

Learn more about OSHA.

Media Contacts:

Eric R. Lucero, 678-237-0630, lucero.eric.r@dol.gov
Erika B. Ruthman, 678-237-0630, ruthman.erika.b@dol.gov

Release Number:  24-1990-ATL (264)