MACON, Ga. — The day after a worker was killed at a South Bibb manufacturing plant, the federal Office of Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) confirmed to 13WMAZ it has launched an investigation.
We reported Wednesday that a man was killed in an accident at the South Bibb Kumho Tire plant. The plant has a history of workplace safety issues and OSHA previously called some issues "serious and repeat violations."
According to OSHA, the death was reported to the agency last night, shortly after the death happened. Right now, the preliminary report suggests a maintenance worker was doing repairs on a piece of equipment dubbed a "wig-wag."
They say the report indicates the machine was not locked and tagged out.
Lockout tagout is a safety measure that prevents "unexpected energization, start-up or release of stored energy in order to prevent injury to employees" when machines are being maintained, according to OSHA regulations.
They believe the worker was pulled into the machine and was killed by their injuries.
The plant opened in 2016 and the Korean tire company has paid more than a half million dollars in fines for accidents there.
That includes a worker who fell to their death while the plant was under construction and employees who suffered amputations on the job.
Previously, OSHA has cited Kumho for nearly four dozen violations since the Macon plant opened. Last year, they said Kumho wasn't performing required inspections and exposed workers to the risk of being struck by a crane.
We reached out to Kumho Tire for comment. They have not yet gotten back to us.