State Investigations Launched After Impact Plastics Workers Die In Flood

The deadly flooding in Erwin, Tennessee, has claimed the lives of at least five employees at Impact Plastics, where workers were swept away as the Nolichucky River flooded the factory grounds. The flood, triggered by Hurricane Helene, has left the community in mourning and sparked multiple investigations into how the company handled the emergency.

Gerald O’Connor, the company’s CEO, expressed his sorrow over the loss of employees, stating that the company is “devastated” by the tragedy. Despite this, survivors have accused the company of failing to give workers enough time to leave. Jacob Ingram, a factory employee, said that they were not instructed to evacuate but were instead told to move their cars as the floodwaters approached.

Now, both the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) are investigating whether proper safety protocols were followed and if workers were given the chance to escape in time. O’Connor, in a video message, denied that any employees were forced to stay and claimed they were told to leave well before the flooding began.

The factory has a long history of safety violations. TOSHA has conducted several investigations into Impact Plastics over the years, citing the company for serious safety concerns, most notably in 2010. These previous violations may play a role in determining whether the company acted appropriately during the September 27 disaster.

The victims of the flooding have been identified as Sibrina Barnett, Monica Hernandez, Bertha Mendoza, Johnny Peterson, and Lidia Verdugo. One worker, Rosa Maria Andrade Reynoso, remains missing, and search efforts are ongoing. As investigations continue, many in the community are left wondering whether this tragedy could have been avoided.