Hold Companies Accountable for Deadly Negligence
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Sponsor: The Hunger Site
Workers are dying needlessly while companies delay evacuations during disasters. Call for stricter regulations that hold employers accountable and protect lives before another preventable tragedy occurs.
Workplace disasters can strike suddenly, with devastating consequences. Across the country, workers are being put in dangerous situations when natural disasters hit, and without proper safety measures, lives are lost. One such tragedy occurred when floodwaters caused by Hurricane Helene swept away workers at a Tennessee plastics factory, leaving families mourning loved ones who never returned home1.
This should never happen.
In that case, 11 factory workers were trapped as a nearby river swelled, eventually flooding the plant. Among the victims was Bertha Mendoza, a beloved mother of four, who made a heart-wrenching call to her family before the floodwaters took her life.
“Tell my children I love them,” she said, her final words to her husband1.
Delayed Evacuations Cost Lives
The company had failed to act on the warning signs early enough. Workers were not evacuated in time, even as flood warnings blared and the parking lot began to fill with water. As the storm worsened, some workers found temporary refuge on vehicles, only to be swept away by the raging water. The survivors later said that evacuation came too late—lives could have been saved if proper procedures had been in place2.
Urgent Need for Regulation
The risks posed by extreme weather events are well-documented, yet too many workplaces lack the necessary safety protocols and disaster response measures to protect employees. It’s time for businesses and government agencies to take responsibility for ensuring worker safety during natural disasters.
We are calling for immediate action to prevent future workplace tragedies. This is essential to prevent another similar tragedy. Workers should never have to choose between their livelihood and their life. Whether it’s a flood, hurricane, wildfire, or other natural disaster, employers must act to protect their people.
Protect Lives and Demand Accountability
As we witness the increasing frequency of severe weather events, the urgency to address workplace safety has never been greater. No family should lose a loved one because a company failed to prioritize safety. By calling for legislative and regulatory changes, we can create a future where workers are protected, even in the most dangerous conditions.
By signing this petition, you are joining the fight for worker safety and accountability. You are standing with families who have lost loved ones and with workers who continue to face risks. Together, we can demand safer workplaces and ensure that employers take responsibility for their people.
Let’s make sure no worker ever faces a preventable tragedy again. Sign the petition today.
- Cedar Attanasio and Jonathan Mattise, The Associated Press (2 October 2024), "Helene’s flooding swept away 11 workers at a Tennessee factory. Now the state is investigating."
- Suzanne Gamboa and Didi Martinez, NBC News (2 October 2024), "Tennessee investigating plastics factory after workers were trapped in flood during Hurricane Helene."
The Petition:
To District Attorney Steven R. Finney, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI), Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA), Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), and the Tennessee State Legislature,
We, the undersigned, respectfully request immediate legislative and regulatory action to prevent workplace tragedies like the one that occurred at Impact Plastics in Erwin, Tennessee, where eleven workers were swept away by catastrophic floodwaters during Hurricane Helene. This devastating event, resulting in loss of life and destruction, underscores the critical need for stringent safety regulations, clear evacuation protocols, and enhanced oversight for businesses operating in hazardous conditions.
The need for oversight is clear: workers must never again be placed in harm’s way because of a lack of preparation or delayed evacuation procedures during natural disasters. Impact Plastics was operating despite clear flash flood warnings, and many workers were not allowed to leave in time, leading to preventable deaths. This tragedy highlights gaps in workplace safety policies and emergency management planning, particularly in industries vulnerable to environmental disasters.
We call on the Tennessee State Legislature, TOSHA, the TDLWD, and related regulatory bodies to take the following actions:
- Establish mandatory evacuation protocols that prioritize worker safety and require businesses to act immediately in response to severe weather alerts.
- Implement penalties for companies that fail to report or respond appropriately during disasters.
- Require comprehensive emergency response training for all employers and employees, ensuring clear understanding of evacuation procedures in hazardous conditions.
- Enforce stricter workplace safety inspections, especially in areas prone to natural disasters, to identify risks and gaps in preparedness.
- Develop a disaster-preparedness fund that can assist companies in creating better safety systems and protocols.
In addition, we ask that the TBI and District Attorney Steven R. Finney continue to investigate this tragic event, ensuring full accountability for any negligence or criminal misconduct.
By taking these actions, you can help ensure that Tennessee businesses protect their workers and their communities. We cannot allow more lives to be lost due to inadequate planning and oversight. With the right regulations and guidelines, we can prevent such tragedies from ever happening again, providing a safer, more secure future for all workers in Tennessee.
We trust in your commitment to act swiftly and decisively to safeguard the well-being of our workforce.
Together, we can build a future where no worker is left behind in the face of disaster.
Sincerely,
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