Impact Plastics didn't allow cell phones in the plant. Did that factor into employees staying?

As employees at Impact Plastics continued to work even as Hurricane Helene floodwaters rose toward the plant, they had little knowledge of the dire scene unfolding outside.

The Nolichucky River was overrunning its banks and cutting off the only road out of the Riverview Industrial Park, and the National Weather Service was raising the alarm with urgent instructions to evacuate.

Impact Plastics employees, though, didn't see the warnings that were sent as early as 9:20 a.m.

The workers were not allowed to have their cell phones out and could be punished if managers saw them, Knox News has confirmed. Without access to warnings pushed to phones, and without sight of what was happening outside the windowless production space, employees were in the dark about the impending danger.

Even if employees had seen the alerts, several told Knox News that managers wouldn’t have allowed them to leave until it was too late. The company has denied it forced employees to stay as floodwaters rose. Both the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration have launched investigations into the business.

Ultimately, tragedy struck the plant. Six employees died after taking refuge on the back of a semitruck trailer from PolyPipe USA next door. The truck was inundated with water and eventually flipped, sweeping away the employees.

An attorney representing Impact Plastics CEO Gerald O’Connor did not respond to questions from Knox News about the company’s cell phone policy.

Impact Plastics employees explain the rules banning cell phones

Luke Widener, an attorney who represents with Greg Coleman six former Impact Plastics employees or their families, confirmed the rule to Knox News in an email.

“We know that the company’s official policy was that cell phones were not allowed on the factory floor,” Widener said.

Some employees had their phones once they left the building. NBC News reported that Monica Hernandez, one of the employees who died, was messaging her family while she waited on the back of the semitruck trailer. Likewise, Jacob Ingram, whose story and rescue from the back of the truck Knox News first detailed, was sending videos and photos of the floodwaters to family members.

Monty Dunbar, whose story of struggle Knox News profiled last month, said phones weren’t allowed in the facility and that some employees kept their phones locked in their car. There were no indoor lockers to place them in, he said.

Former employee Phillip Burnett told Knox News the only people who could have their phones out were supervisors. Machine operators on the floor could not, he said.

Employees say they were subject to punishment for having phones on Impact Plastics factory floor

Zack Lawson, an attorney representing the family of Impact Plastics manager Johnny Peterson, who died during the flood, told Knox News he has spoken with another employee who they could be sent home if they were caught looking at their phone.

One employee, who asked Knox News to not name them because they're seeking employment, said the punishment could be severe.

The employee recounted how another employee took a selfie inside the plant to use for his Facebook profile picture. When managers learned about the photo, the employee told Knox News, they suspended the person who took it for multiple days for using a cell phone and taking photos inside the plant.

“They were all scared to death that someone was going to see the machines and steal secrets or something,” the employee told Knox News. “For heaven’s sake, you couldn’t see anything.”

Tyler Whetstone is an investigative reporter focused on accountability journalism. Connect with Tyler by emailing him at tyler.whetstone@knoxnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly known as Twitter, @tyler_whetstone.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Amid chaos, Impact Plastics employees weren't allowed to have cell phones