EDWARDSVILLE, Ill. (KMOX) - There are some questions about the vulnerability of the Amazon warehouse that collapsed, killing six employees when an EF-3 tornado slammed through it Friday night. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation, according to reports.
US Department of Labor confirmed to both CNN and Reuters on Monday that an investigation is underway and that OSHA officers have been on site since Saturday. The organization "has six months to complete its investigation, issue citations and propose monetary penalties if violations of workplace safety and or health regulations are found," Scott Allen, regional director for public affairs and media relations for the US Department of Labor told CNN.
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker toured what remains of the Amazon Distribution Center in Edwardsville on Monday and says there's also an investigation into whether the existing building codes were followed and if those codes need to be improved.
"It makes us wonder, and I've spoken with legislatures who are here too, about whether or not we need to change code based upon the climate change that we're seeing all around us," Pritzker says.
A spokesperson with Amazon says the shelter-in-place in the facility doesn't have enclosed walls, but is away from the windows.
Pritzker says there was no basement in the massive facility because you can only dig down so far in the area before reaching water.
Forty-five people made it out of the 1.1 million square-foot facility safely on Friday night. Amazon director of national media Kelly Nantel says the quick actions of managers telling employees to head to storm shelters in the front of the building likely saved lives.
Officials identified the six Amazon employees who died in the collapse:
• Etheria Hebb, 34, of St. Louis
• Deandre S. Morrow, 28, of St. Louis
• Kevin D. , 62, of Carlyle, Illinois
• Clayton Lynn Cope, 29, of Alton
• Larry E. Virden, 46, of Collinsville
• Austin J. McEwen, 26, of Edwardsville
Related
© 2021 KMOX (Audacy). All rights reserved
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Follow KMOX
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram