02-04-2025
Impact Plastics gave employees enough time to escape Helene floodwaters, TOSHA says
Impact Plastics managers gave employees enough time to escape rising floodwaters from Hurricane Helene on Sept. 27, according to the investigative report released April 2 by the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Six Impact Plastics employees died after taking refuge on the back of a semitruck trailer at PolyPipe USA next door. The truck was inundated with water and eventually flipped, sweeping away the employees.
'TOSHA determined that company management exercised reasonable diligence in dismissing employees and providing them sufficient time to leave the facility safely,' spokesperson Chris Cannon said in a statement.
Many employees told Knox News managers wouldn't allow them to leave until it was too late. The company has denied it forced employees to stay as floodwaters rose. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation is continuing to investigate the incident.
This story will be updated.
Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Connect with Tyler by emailing him at Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tyler_whetstone.
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: TOSHA: Impact Plastics gave employees enough time to escape Helene
