ERWIN, Tenn. — The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration has opened an investigation after reports that flash floods swept away employees from Impact Plastics while on the job.
Employees on the job during the catastrophic flooding on Friday said the company lied about the circumstances behind why the employees were swept away. The company said its workers died after the river near the business flooded over into the parking lot. It said most workers left immediately, but some "remained on or near the premises for unknown reasons."
According to a release, TOSHA has opened an investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the workplace fatalities. The current investigation by the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation into the circumstances that led to the deaths supersedes the jurisdiction of TOSHA, according to the release.
However, TOSHA said its investigators will work with TBI and local officials to determine when they can begin an on-site inspection.
The safety administration also said employers have 8 hours to notify it of workplace fatalities, according to state law. It said it has not received a fatality report from Impact Plastics.
According to the release TOSHA investigators typically survey the location of the fatality, review company records and procedures and conduct interviews with management and employees while investigating possible violations.
A fatality investigation can take up to six months to complete, the release said.
"To ensure the investigation's integrity, TOSHA does not release any preliminary information regarding the incident," the release said. "When the investigation is final, the report detailing the agency’s findings is open for review by the citizens of Tennessee."