TOPEKA, Kan. — The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is investigating the March 14 death of a worker at the Goodyear truck and OTR tire plant in Topeka, a Region 7 spokeswoman told Tire Business.
James Lay Jr., a 61-year-old contract worker employed by Kansas Personnel Services Inc., was killed in a storeroom at the plant when an object fell and struck him on the head, according to news reports.
OSHA has not released details about the accident because the investigation is ongoing, the spokeswoman said.
In a statement, Goodyear said it is working closely with OSHA in the investigation of Mr. Lay's death.
"Nothing is more important to Goodyear than ensuring a safe work environment within all our facilities," the tire maker said.
Goodyear said it has robust safety systems in place at all its facilities, and works constantly to strengthen those programs through ongoing contractor training, voluntary inspections and rigorous safety audits, the company said.
Goodyear employs 1,600 at the 73-year-old Topeka plant.
In February 2017, Goodyear made a $1.75 million settlement with the Virginia Department of Labor over four workplace deaths that occurred at Goodyear's Danville, Va., plant between August 2015 and August 2016.