Chloe Adams
On December 11, 2021, a tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. One of the buildings flattened by the twister was the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory, where about 110 employees were working the late shift and manufacturing candles and fragrances for several brands. The factory was destroyed, with eight people confirmed dead and eight still missing. The company, which is family-owned, has since been sued by workers who claim they were threatened with firing if they left before the tornado hit.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the company | Mayfield Consumer Products |
| Location | Mayfield, Kentucky |
| Year | 2021 |
| Date | 11th December |
| Number of employees working at the time | 110 |
| Number of employees trapped | 110 |
| Number of employees rescued | 40 |
| Number of employees dead | 8 |
| Number of employees missing | 8 |
| Annual revenue | $28.97 million |
| Total number of employees | 245 |
| Shift timings | 10- to 12-hour shifts |
| Owner | Mary Propes |
| Current CEO | Troy Propes |
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What You'll Learn
- The candle company Mayfield Consumer Products was hit by a tornado in Kentucky
- Workers were threatened with firing if they left before the tornado hit
- A class-action lawsuit was filed by workers against the company
- The death toll in Kentucky rose to 74 people, including six children
- The company had previously been hiring for multiple positions
The candle company Mayfield Consumer Products was hit by a tornado in Kentucky
On December 11, 2021, a tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky, causing extensive damage to the town and its candle factory, Mayfield Consumer Products. The factory was left in ruins, with nothing but a huge mound of debris where the building once stood. Mayfield Consumer Products is a family-owned company that manufactures candles and home fragrance products for various brands. It employs over 245 people and generates an estimated annual revenue of $28.97 million.
At the time of the tornado, approximately 110 people were working the late shift at the factory. The extreme weather conditions caused the building to collapse, trapping those inside. Eight people were confirmed dead, eight were reported missing, and about 40 were rescued from the rubble. The death toll is expected to rise as rescue efforts continue.
In the aftermath of the tornado, allegations surfaced that factory supervisors threatened employees with termination if they left their shifts early, despite the impending danger. Several workers claimed they were told they could not leave, even if they wanted to, or else they would be fired. However, company officials, including spokesman Bob Ferguson, denied these accusations, stating that employees were free to leave whenever they wanted and that their priority was the safety of their workers.
The tornado in Mayfield was part of a broader weather system that wreaked havoc across multiple states, including Arkansas, Illinois, and other neighbouring states. The devastation in Mayfield was particularly severe, with two-thirds of the town destroyed, and the impact was felt not only by those who worked at the candle factory but also by the entire community.
The disaster has led to lawsuits filed by survivors, alleging that the factory demonstrated "flagrant indifference" by not allowing employees to leave despite the approaching storm. These legal actions seek financial compensation and highlight the importance of adhering to occupational safety and health standards in the workplace.
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Workers were threatened with firing if they left before the tornado hit
On Friday, December 10, 2021, a tornado ripped through Mayfield, Kentucky, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory, which employed many of the city's 10,000 residents, was destroyed, leaving a huge mound of debris in its place. Eight people died, eight were still missing, and 110 people were trapped inside the factory.
Several employees at the candle factory claimed that supervisors threatened to fire them if they left before the tornado hit. Workers said they congregated in bathrooms and hallways, and some wanted to leave after the first tornado warning siren sounded, but managers told them they couldn't. "You can't leave. You can't leave. You have to stay here," Haley Conder, 29, recalled managers saying. Mark Saxton, a forklift operator, said he would have liked to leave but "wasn't given the option."
Some workers left anyway, despite the alleged threats to their job security, out of fear for their safety. "I asked to leave and they told me I'd be fired," said 20-year-old Elijah Johnson. "Even with the weather like this, you're still going to fire me?" he recalled asking. "Yes," a manager responded. McKayla Emery, 21, said she heard managers tell workers, "If you leave, you're more than likely to be fired."
Company officials denied the allegations. Bob Ferguson, a spokesman for Mayfield Consumer Products, said, "It's absolutely untrue." He added that the company had a policy in place since the COVID-19 pandemic that allowed employees to leave whenever they wanted and come back the next day. Ferguson also stated that they followed guidelines from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
The tornado's impact on the candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, highlighted the tension between employees' safety and their job security. While some workers felt threatened with termination, company officials denied any wrongdoing and emphasized their commitment to employee safety and flexibility. The incident underscores the importance of clear and effective emergency protocols in workplaces, especially in areas prone to natural disasters.
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A class-action lawsuit was filed by workers against the company
In December 2021, a tornado hit the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, killing at least eight people and trapping 110 others. The factory was completely destroyed, leaving a huge mound of debris.
Several employees at the factory claimed their managers threatened to fire them if they left before the twister hit. Haley Conder, 29, said she was told by managers to stay for safety reasons, but after the first siren stopped, she felt people should have been allowed to go home. When a second siren went off, a group of workers asked if they could leave, to which managers responded, "You can't leave, you have to stay here."
In March 2022, eight workers who survived the tornado filed a class-action lawsuit against the company, alleging false imprisonment and defamation of character. The plaintiffs, who were among those trapped in the factory, claimed they were threatened with termination if they left and accused the company of inadequate emergency preparation. The lawsuit states that the company had up to three and a half hours to let employees leave as a safety precaution.
One of the plaintiffs, John Lawson, claimed he told supervisors that if a similar storm were forecast in his home state of Nevada, workers would have been sent home. In response, his supervisor laughed and said, "Welcome to Kentucky." Another plaintiff, Elijah Johnson, alleged that the company retaliated against him for participating in an Occupational Safety and Health Administration investigation by refusing to pay his medical bills.
The company denied the allegations, with a spokesperson stating that employees could leave whenever they wanted and that they followed guidelines from the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. CEO Troy Propes expressed heartbreak over the disaster and stated that the company's immediate efforts were to assist those affected.
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The death toll in Kentucky rose to 74 people, including six children
On Friday, December 10, 2021, a tornado ripped through the city of Mayfield in Kentucky, causing widespread destruction and loss of life. The death toll in the state rose to 74 people, including six children, with over 100 people still missing. The ages of the deceased ranged from five months to 86 years old.
The candle factory, Mayfield Consumer Products, was one of the areas hit hard by the tornado. Eight people were killed, and several others were injured or missing. The factory employed many people in Mayfield and the surrounding areas, and the impact of the tornado left a devastating toll on the community.
Several employees at the candle factory claimed they were threatened with firing if they left their shifts early before the tornado hit. The company denied these allegations, stating that employees were free to leave whenever they wanted. However, some workers chose to stay out of fear for their safety, and the factory was eventually destroyed, trapping 110 people inside.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear provided updates on the search and rescue efforts, expressing his sorrow and stating that the devastation was overwhelming. President Joe Biden declared a major federal disaster in Kentucky and visited the affected areas to offer support and raise spirits.
The tornado caused extensive damage to homes and businesses in Mayfield and surrounding counties, leaving thousands without power and hundreds seeking refuge in shelters. The community rallied together to provide assistance to those impacted, with neighbors and volunteers offering housing, food, and other essential support.
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The company had previously been hiring for multiple positions
The Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory in Mayfield, Kentucky, was hit by a tornado on December 11, 2021. The factory was destroyed, and at least eight people were killed, with many more injured or missing. The company had recently been hiring for multiple positions, with over 100 employees working on the late shift when the tornado struck.
Mayfield Consumer Products is a family-owned business that manufactures branded candles and home fragrance products. In the lead-up to the tornado, the company had been ramping up production to meet the high Christmas demand for candles. This resulted in a large number of employees working in the factory when the tornado hit.
Before the tornado, the company had advertised several open positions on its website, specifically for production roles on the first and second shifts. This indicates that the company was actively hiring and expanding its operations. In 2018, Mayfield Consumer Products announced an $8.3 million investment in development that was expected to create more than 50 jobs. This initiative was supported by the former Kentucky governor, Matt Bevin.
The company's hiring efforts and expansion plans demonstrate its growth and success in the candle and fragrance industry. However, the tornado caused significant disruption to its operations and resulted in tragic losses. The impact of the tornado on the company and its employees has led to lawsuits and claims of inadequate safety measures.
The tornado's impact on the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory highlights the vulnerability of businesses and communities to natural disasters. The company's previous hiring efforts and plans for expansion were abruptly halted as they navigated the aftermath of the tornado, including rescue operations, rebuilding, and providing support to affected employees and their families.
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Frequently asked questions
Mayfield Consumer Products, a family-owned company that manufactures candles and fragrances for several brands.
Mayfield, Kentucky.
Approximately 110 people were working the late shift when the tornado hit.
Yes, there were casualties. Eight employees were confirmed dead, eight were still missing, and about 40 people were rescued from the rubble.
Yes, survivors of the tornado filed a class-action lawsuit against the company, claiming that their employer demonstrated "flagrant indifference" by not allowing employees to leave early despite the approaching storm.
