Tennessee investigating plastics factory after workers trapped by Hurricane Helene floods died or went missing
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation said Wednesday it is looking into allegations against an Erwin plastics factory where several workers died after they were swept away by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene and some were still missing.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the state's criminal investigation agency, said Wednesday it is looking into allegations against an Erwin plastics factory where several workers died and some went missing after they were swept away by floodwaters from Hurricane Helene.
"At the request of 1st Judicial District Attorney General Steve Finney, TBI agents are investigating allegations involving Impact Plastics," Leslie Earhart, the bureau's spokesperson, said in a statement to NBC News. The bureau deferred additional questions to the District Attorney General's Office.
Finney in a statement said that he specifically asked "that they review the occurrences of Friday, September 27, 2024, to identify any potential criminal violations."
A spokesperson for Impact Plastics said in an email response to NBC News that the company is aware of the investigation but has not yet been contacted. “It will cooperate fully,” the statement said. “The company is conducting its own internal review of events and timelines of September 27th and will share the information once the review is complete.”
On Thursday, Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration spokesperson Chris Cannon said they are coordinating with TBI "to determine when TOSHA inspectors can safely travel to Erwin and begin their on-site inquiry into the circumstances that led to the deaths of employees at Impact Plastics."
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