MACON, Ga. — A worker died Wednesday afternoon at the Kumho Tire plant in South Bibb County, according to coroner Leon Jones.
13WMAZ reached out to the Bibb County Sheriff's Office and they confirmed the name of the worker as 57-year-old Steven Brookins.
The day after a Brookins 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.
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 shortly after it happened. The preliminary report suggests a maintenance Brookins was doing repairs on a piece of equipment called 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 Brookins was pulled into the machine and died as a result of his injuries from the accident.
The plant opened in 2016 and the Korean tire company has paid more than a half million dollars in fines for accidents.
This 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.
13WMAZ reached out to Kumho Tire for comment. They have not yet gotten back to us.
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