Kentucky Labor Cabinet: Social distancing guidelines were not properly implemented at Henkel

BOWLING GREEN, Ky.- The Kentucky Labor Cabinet told WNKY on Wednesday that Bowling Green’s Henkel plant was ordered closed because the CDC’s social distancing guidelines were not properly implemented.

The Chief of Staff for the Labor Cabinet, Marjorie Arnold, also said businesses that have been issued closure orders must be able to show a viable plan to achieve the CDC guidance on social distancing in their workplace prior to reopening.

On Tuesday afternoon, a company spokeswoman for Henkel sent WNKY the following statement:

While we have taken significant measures to safeguard our employees, we will cooperate fully with the Kentucky Labor Cabinet to understand their feedback and to take appropriate actions that may be necessary so we can resume production of laundry detergent products that are so essential to society to help consumers maintain home hygiene during this crisis. We remain committed to help lower the probability of virus spread in our community.

WNKY can confirm that at least four of Henkel’s workers in Bowling Green have tested positive for COVID-19.