Investigations Begin Into Flooding Deaths Of Impact Plastics Employees

The flooding that hit Erwin, Tennessee, in late September claimed the lives of at least five workers from the Impact Plastics factory, leaving a small town and a company reeling. Workers were swept away as they clung to a truck in a desperate attempt to survive the rising waters of the Nolichucky River. One worker remains missing, and investigations are underway to determine what led to this tragedy.

Gerald O’Connor, CEO of Impact Plastics, expressed his condolences in a public statement, calling the loss “heartbreaking.” However, surviving workers have questioned whether the company acted quickly enough to ensure their safety. Employee Jacob Ingram said that instead of being told to evacuate, they were instructed to move their vehicles before the floodwaters arrived, leaving them vulnerable when the situation became dire.

Multiple agencies, including the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) and Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA), are now investigating the company. The focus of these probes will be to determine whether proper safety measures were in place and if workers were given adequate time to leave before the flood hit.

O’Connor has denied that the company was negligent, stating in a video that employees were told to leave the factory well before the flooding began.

Impact Plastics has been the subject of scrutiny in the past. The factory has been cited for safety violations by TOSHA on several occasions, with the most recent being in 2010. As the investigation continues, these past issues may play a role in determining whether the company did enough to protect its workers during this disaster.

The names of the deceased workers have been confirmed, including Sibrina Barnett, Monica Hernandez, Bertha Mendoza, Johnny Peterson, and Lidia Verdugo. The search for Rosa Maria Andrade Reynoso, who remains missing, is ongoing.