Dec 14, 2021 - Science

Kentucky to investigate candle factory after tornados kill 8 workers

Shawna Chen

Photo of rubble — Emergency workers search through what is left of the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory after it was destroyed by a tornado in Mayfield, Ky., on Dec. 11. Photo: John Amis/AFP via Getty Images

The Kentucky Division of Occupational Safety and Health Compliance will investigate Mayfield Consumer Products after tornados ravaged Mayfield, Ky., and killed at least eight of its factory workers over the weekend, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said Tuesday.

Why it matters: An investigation is launched whenever a worker dies on the job, but multiple employees have told news outlets they were warned they'd be fired if they left their shifts early as the tornado approached.

The candle manufacturing company has denied all allegations.
"It shouldn’t suggest that there was any wrongdoing," Beshear said about the probe at a press conference.
"But what it should give people confidence in, is that we’ll get to the bottom of what happened."

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Kentucky to investigate candle factory after tornados kill 8 workers

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