Aerial view of Goodyear's Topeka, Kan., truck and OTR tire factory
TOPEKA, Kan.—The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has concluded its investigation of an incident that led to the death of a Goodyear employee at the company's tire plant in Topeka last fall and issued a $15,625 fine.
Timothy Cole, 52, died around 8 a.m. Sept. 24 when he became entangled in the machinery he was working with. He was taken to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead.
Timothy E. "Tim" Cole
Goodyear issued a statement to Tire Business in the wake of the ruling.
"Nothing is more important at Goodyear than the safety of our associates," the company statement said. "We fully cooperated with OSHA and will continue to focus on providing a safe work environment for our associates."
Cole's widow, Michelle Cole, contends the incident was not her husband's fault and told The Topeka Capital-Journal that she intends to pursue legal action.
The Topeka plant, opened in 1944, manufactures light truck, bus and OTR tires. It has an annual capacity of around 7,000 tires per day and employs around 1,600, according to Tire Business' Global Tire Report.
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