Editor's note: An earlier version of this story included an incorrect time of a fatal accident at Nissan's Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plant on June 16, and the year a contract driver was killed in a trucking accident on the same site.
Nissan Motor Co. is stepping up safety procedures at U.S. manufacturing facilities after three accidental deaths in 18 months at its Smyrna, Tenn., assembly plant.
A maintenance worker was killed in an accident in the plant's body assembly area at 1:30 a.m. CDT on June 16. Nissan identified the employee as Michael Hooper, 43, a 21-year veteran of the automaker.
A supplier worker, whom Nissan has not identified, was killed in an accident inside the plant's paint operation on April 25.
A contract driver for the operation was killed in a trucking accident on the property on Jan. 27, 2012.
Nissan manufacturing spokesman Justin Saia said the company is working with authorities to investigate the June incident.
"We are implementing additional rigorous safety audits of all contractors at our facilities to ensure adherence to safety standards and guidelines," the company said in a written statement.
"We continue to implement stricter governance and oversight over all contractors and their employees operating in our facilities, including mandatory participation in weekly safety briefings led by Nissan safety personnel. We also require that contractors conduct job hazard analysis reviews prior to performing any task at our facilities."
The Smyrna plant, which employs more than 6,000 people, builds the Nissan Altima, Maxima, Leaf and Pathfinder and the Infiniti JX. It will begin production of the Nissan Rogue later this year.
