Some Kentucky candle factory workers who survived tornado considering lawsuit against the company, lawyer says

At least eight people died in the Mayfield Consumer Products candle factory.

MAYFIELD, Ky. — Some employees who survived a tornado that leveled their candle factory are considering taking legal action against the company, according to an attorney who is representing some of the workers.

The move by several injured Mayfield Consumer Products employees comes after five workers told NBC News that as the twister was bearing down on the city Friday their supervisors warned they could be fired if they tried to flee.

At least eight workers died, Kentucky officials have said.

In a news release, attorney Amos Jones said he has been retained by several of the survivors.

One of workers Jones represents is 20-year-old Elijah Johnson, who told NBC News earlier that he was working in the back of the building when several employees wanting to head home walked in to speak with supervisors.

Johnson said he asked to leave and was told he'd be fired.

“They should have let us go that night,” said Johnson, who is suffering from groin, neck and back pains. “I feel like I need proper representation.”

Jones said he is not identifying the other workers who have retained his services. Jones is working with Lexington-based lawyer William Davis.

McKayla Emery, 21, a candle factory worker who was severely injured when the tornado hit and suffered large burns across her legs, buttocks and forehead, told NBC News she has been in touch with Jones.

“I honestly don’t know how to feel about about everything since the tornado,” Emery said Wednesday after she was released from the hospital. “I haven’t really given it much thought. I haven’t even been home for 24 hours. There’s so much going on.”

Emery was also one of the workers who told NBC News that colleagues who wanted to leave work ahead of the tornado were mistreated.