After tornado, workers sue Kentucky candle factory for “blatant indifference”

Photo: JOHN AMIS / AFP / Getty Images

Survivors of the tornado that devastated their workplace, causing the death of eight people, filed a lawsuit for the “flagrant indifference” that, they say, the employer had towards their life, by not allowing that the workers went to shelter at their homes for the arrival of the storm .

The lawsuit accuses the directors of the candle company Mayfield Consumer Products for violating Kentucky occupational health and safety regulations. That was for deciding that the staff should remain there and not go out to seek refuge in their homes, despite the mortal danger posed by the eminence of tornadoes.

The workers affirm in the legal appeal that they were threatened with dismissal if they left before the passage of the twister. They ask to be compensated for damages.

Amos Jones, an attorney for the employees, said that “this is a direct claim, just what this statute was intended to address,” cites The Associated Press.

Bob Ferguson, company representative, denied that employees had been threatened with retaliation.

For his part, Troy Popes, general director of the company, assured that “ an independent team of experts “would be in charge of investigating the facts. “We are going to do an exhaustive review of what happened,” he assured.

Meanwhile, the Debris repair and clean-up work progressed, as reports anticipated that western Kentucky could receive up to 5 centimeters or 2 inches of rain on Sunday.