US Goodyear fined over $1m for Virginia plant violations

HOUSTON (ICIS)–The Virginia Department of Labor and Industry issued multiple citations and $1m in penalties to Goodyear Tire and Rubber after comprehensive safety and health inspections at a plant, ICIS learned on Wednesday

According to government documents, the total of seven citations originated from the Virginia Occupational Safety and Health (VOSH) programme, which recorded four fatalities within one year at the plant. Citations included non-fatal incidents resulting in injury, as well as miscellaneous regulation violations. 

In addition to the state investigations (one of which is currently ongoing), federal safety officials and the United Steelworkers of America (USW) labour union also investigated the fatalities.

Goodyear has 15 days from the 7 October issuance to comply or contest the state citations. Goodyear can also request an informal conference with VOSH’s regional director.

Goodyear’s facility in Virginia employs approximately 2,200 workers, who are represented by USW. The plant manufactures specialty tyres and operates on three shifts.

The automotive industry is a major global consumer of petrochemicals which contributes more than a third of the raw material costs of an average vehicle. ICIS tracks the movement of petrochemical raw material costs in auto production both globally and regionally with the weighted ICIS Basket of Automotive Petrochemicals (IBAP).

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