Tyre manufacturer cited for multiple safety violations after 3 workers suffer severe injuries on consecutive days
16 May 2022
The US Department of Labour’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited a tyre manufacturing plant in Illinois, US on May 13. In two separate incidents on consecutive days in November 2021, three workers at the Continental Tire plant suffered severe injuries.
On November 13, 2021, OSHA received an employer-reported referral from Continental Tire the Americas LLC, the North American subsidiary of the German-based tire and automotive component manufacturer Continental AG. The referral came after an employee unjamming a machine suffered the amputation of three fingers. The next day, one employee suffered severe burns requiring hospitalisation and another employee suffered a concussion injury after an industrial rubber-compound mixer exploded.
Following its investigations, OSHA issued the company citations for two repeated, 16 serious and five other than serious violations. Inspectors allege Continental Tire the Americas LLC had deficient safety procedures for energy control, combustible dust preventative engineering, housekeeping, personal protective equipment, emergency egress routes and hazard communication. The company faces $341,866 in proposed penalties.
“OSHA standards are put in place to prevent workers from suffering life-altering injuries,” said OSHA’s Area Director Aaron Priddy in Fairview Heights. “Continental Tire the Americas must learn from these tragic injuries, review company safety procedures and employee training and make sure workers are safe on the job.”
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