According to the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal, Cooper Tire & Rubber Co. is contesting recent OSHA safety violation findings at its Tupelo, Miss., and Findlay, Ohio, plants.
The tiremaker has requested a hearing with OSHA, which recommended a $254,900 fine against the tiremaker and two of its contractors at its Tupelo plant, and another $213,500 in fines at its Findlay plant.
The newspaper said OSHA found 25 safety violations at the Tupelo plant, including two “willful violations,” one repeat violation and nine other “serious violations.”
On June 15, the Associated Press reported that Cooper’s Tupelo plant and two of its contractors – Jesco Maintenance Corp. and IH Services – had been cited with 25 safety violations.
“OSHA’s area office in Jackson began its inspection in Tupelo on Dec. 7, and over the course of several weeks found 25 safety violations,” the newspaper reported.
Then, “‘OSHA saw that the two plants (Tupelo and Findlay) were similar so there was a chance that they might have similar problems since the safety management practices would be similar,’ said Michael Wald, the regional director of office affairs for the U.S. Department of Labor in Atlanta.”
