Impact Plastics employee says company could have saved lives in Unicoi County

One Impact Plastic’s employees said lives could have been saved, had employees been allowed to leave the facility sooner.

Get the East Tennessee news you need every day here:

Get the WVLT News App:

Copyright 2023 WVLT. All rights reserved.

[keithcaldwell]

Profit over people is absolutely disgusting.

[jeffatkinson]

Hope the company never recovers from the disaster and loses everything. Not putting employees safety first is the worst you can do. RIP the employees that didn't make it. 😞

[purgal]

The company just contradicted themselves in the same sentence. They said senior management was the last to leave but then said senior management contacted emergency responders to help those LEFT BEHIND.

[coltshooter]

Impact Plastics is going to feel the impact of lawsuits

[oldschoolel]

Did they give their employees enough time to get to safety? No. I argued this with a former employer during Hurricane Ivan. I eventually left to seek shelter without permission. Aftermath: Middle management tried to fire me over leaving before Corporate stepped in and changed their minds. I managed to make corporate aware of the local management practices, but nothing was ever done. OSHA eventually stepped in over other violations and the company shut down. NO JOB IS EVER WORTH YOUR SAFETY, HEALTH, or LIFE.

[danielrandolph]

I hope they Investigate the company & hold people accountable !!

[banesbox]

Just because you work for someone doesn’t mean they own you. You don’t need their permission to leave the site.

[sirfjohnson]

This should let everyone know, that companies don't care about employee's, here is your proof.. Need i say more??

[Me-tvmw]

Funny how none of the "management" needed or has been seen needing to be rescued!

[lisaskaggs]

Senior management was the last to leave the factory and sought help for the ones left behind.
What?

[janrochester]

Didn't learn anything from previous incidents. Candle factory in western KY, tornados, many killed, for example.

[WillowEtain]

Sounds like the employees are going to own that company

[BUDSBEAU]

the company will never admit their wrong doing in this mess. according to some of the employees management wouldnt let them leave but then management left. some employees got onto a trailer for safety but then the trailer got washed away.
some employees died because of the management. this IS UNACCEPTABLE BEHAVIOR FROM ANY COMPANY and anyone !!!
i hope the families of the ones who died because of this sue this company for everything they have, AND, if the ones who died were illegal aliens, the government should get after them also.

[celestialblueceleste]

The safety of every associate should first priority above profits!!

[stormstalker]

Youtube comments never fail to bring out the absolute worst of humanity. The victim-blaming and complete lack of compassion is as unsurprising as it is horrific.

[Plymonk]

If they were the last to leave to find help for those who stayed behind, a) can’t be left behind if you were the last to leave, b) why did they go to find help, surely you can help, why did they need help if you let them leave well before any was needed 2:49

[tychoremy]

Remember any time shtf, get out!!! No job, no possession is worth your life. The same was said on 9/11.

[SusanBaileyAmazingEstate]

What happened to those managers? How did they get out?

[Fido-vmzi]

If you are in danger, make an executive decision & leave. This should be a protected right, within reason.

[JillMorgan-by]

Sometimes you have to defy the boss and do what you think is right.