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Social Circle Goodyear location facing OSHA penalties
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SOCIAL CIRCLE, Ga. - The Goodyear plant in Social Circle faces nearly $70,000 in penalties due to numerous federal safety violations.

The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration issued seven serious citations against Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co. for exposing employees to various safety hazards, with total penalties between the seven citations reaching $69,058.

Investigators from OSHA inspected the Social Circle plant in August and reportedly found the company failed to provide effective personal protective equipment to employees exposed to burn hazards; did not provide procedures for controlling hazardous energy during equipment maintenance operations; and exposed employees to burns from heated tire treads and caught-in hazards from unguarded machines.

"Our inspection found multiple safety deficiencies that put employees at risk of serious injury or death," William Fulcher, OSHA area office director in Atlanta, said. "Potential workplace hazards must be assessed and eliminated to ensure employees are afforded a safe work environment."

OSHA issued the penalties nearly a week ago but Goodyear still has another week to contest the findings under federal regulations or to accept the citations and pay the penalties.