MACON, Ga. — Kumho Tire says it disagrees with federal inspectors who last week fined the company more than $500,000 for health and safety violations.
But they say they plan to work with Occupational Safety and Health Administration officials to "come to a reasonable solution."
An OSHA spokesman said the Kumho fines announced last week are one of the largest penalties in the eight-state Southeast region in the past two years and the largest in Georgia in that time.
The 22 citations against the south Bibb plant say Kumho's safety problems put workers at risk of falls, burns, eye injuries, amputations, shocks, and more.
They describe workers who weren't trained in safety measures, hazardous materials that weren't labeled, and dangerous machinery without safety instructions. Several complaints describe pits inside the plant where workers were at risk of falls.
Another describes a tire-balancing line that often jams.
"The employer failed to ensure employees wore fall protection or were protected by other means when they climbed on the line to kick tires off," said the citation.
Yet another says OSHA didn't provide facilities where employees could flush their eyes or bodies in an area where the degreaser potassium chloride was being used.
OSHA described most of the citations as serious or repeat violations. Some are problems still unresolved since a 2017 inspection, according to records online.
They say they've placed Kumho in their Severe Violator Enforcement Program.
According to OSHA records, one worker died in 2015 after falling through a hole where a floor panel was missing. Kumho paid a $7,000 fine. OSHA reported the worker was wearing a safety harness but was not secured.
Another was hospitalized for three days last year after being injured when two laser-guided vehicles collided. Kumho paid a $12,554 fine in that case.
On Tuesday, Keith Lolley, human-resources director for the Bibb plant, released this statement:
"Kumho Tire Georgia does not agree with the inspector’s opinions. Kumho Tire will, however, continue to work with OSHA to come to a reasonable resolution. Both Kumho Tire and OSHA have common interests such as providing a safe workplace free of recognized hazards and unsafe behaviors. The Leadership Team at Kumho Tire Georgia is committed to providing its team members with such a workplace."
His statement did not elaborate on what part of the citations the company disagrees with.
According to OSHA, companies that receive citations have three options: to pay their fines within 15 working days, to contest those citations, or to meet with OSHA officials to schedule a conference.
By email, Lolley wrote that Kumho will meet with OSHA "to discuss the inspector’s opinions."
The $500 million plant, owned by a South Korea company, opened three years ago.
In 2014, Bibb County commissioners approved more than $64 million in property tax breaks for the plant. It employs an estimated 400 people.