As of Wednesday, June 7, Region 7 of the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration was still investigating the March death of a worker at the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co. facility in Topeka, Kansas, a Region 7 spokeswoman said.
James Lay Jr., a 61-year-old contract worker employed by Kansas Personnel Services Inc., was killed Tuesday, March 14, in the plant storeroom 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 was working closely with OSHA in the investigation of Lay's death.
"Nothing is more important to Goodyear than ensuring a safe work environment within all our facilities," the Akron-based tire and rubber company 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.
In February, Goodyear reached a $1.75 million settlement with the Virginia Department of Labor over four workplace deaths that occurred at the company's Danville, Va., plant between August 2015 and August 2016.
Rest in Peace buddy.
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James Clifford Lay Jr., a 61-year-old contract worker, was fatally injured at Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.’s Topeka, Kan. manufacturing facility on Tuesday, March 15.
Kansas Personnel Services Inc., the staffing agency that employed Lay, and Goodyear have not provided a full written statement, but OSHA investigators already were on the scene to determine what happened.
An object fell and struck Lay on the head, causing a fatal injury, Lay's wife told local news outlet KSNT. These are the only details currently available about the incident.
The fatality comes just weeks after Goodyear Tire reached a settlement with OSHA after four fatalities occurred at its Danville, Va. plant over the course of a year.
The company agreed to pay $1.75 million in penalties and overhaul its health and safety program as a result of those worker deaths.
Lay is survived by his wife of more than 34 years, a daughter, his parents, a brother and a sister, according to his obituary. His name was released at the request of his family.