A temporary restraining order has been placed on Lear Corporation, the parent company of Renosol Seating in Selma, to block them from taking any action against current and former employees that have made claims against the plant’s working conditions.

The order was signed by a Mobile federal judge Wednesday, after the U.S. Department of Labor filed charges against Lear for allegedly interfering in a federal investigation.

The investigation, which started in May 2014, surrounds the plant’s air quality after an employee made an inquiry about the level of Toluene Diisocyanate (TDI) in the air. TDI is a chemical used to make foam cushions and headrests for cars, which are manufactured at the plant.

The order states Lear Corporation cannot terminate, suspend, harass, sue, threaten, intimidate or take any other discriminatory or retaliatory action against any current or former employees.

“It’s shameful and alarming that Lear would try to silence workers standing up for our safety rather than simply accepting responsibility for providing a safe workplace,” said Latesha Irby, a Renosol employee since 2006, in a press release from the Selma Workers Organizing Committee. “Workers at this plant are going to continue standing up for the good jobs and safe conditions that this community deserves.”

Lear Corporation issued a statement Friday disputing allegations of retaliation against employees that have spoken out about working conditions at the Selma plant.

“Lear encourages all employees to report any concerns, and we have never retaliated against anyone who has done so,” the response stated. “OSHA’s case is based on the false allegations of a former employee terminated for cause and who is now behind this action with the full backing of the UAW (United Auto Workers), which has tried unsuccessfully to organize our Selma plant. Lear will defend itself and its employees vigorously against this inexplicable government overreach.”

According to a release from the Selma Workers Organizing Committee, the former employee is Kimberly King.

“While the Federal government continued its investigation, Lear fired Kimberly King, who worked at the factory for nine years … and who had been a key witness in the government’s investigation,” the release stated. “Ms. King was fired after she delivered a letter to Hyundai asking management to help secure good, safe and fair working conditions at the plant.”

According to Renosol, the company has complied with the investigation into the Selma plant’s air quality.

“Employee safety is our primary concern at all of our facilities, and Lear has fully cooperated with efforts to ensure employee safety at our Selma facility,” the statement read. “OSHA and outside independent experts have tested this plant’s atmosphere a total of seven times during the past year and have found nothing unsafe.”

According to Lear, all of the tests showed the Renosol plant’s air to be safe. The results can be found online at www.learselmafacts.com.

“All totaled between May 16, 2014, and November 13, 2014, OSHA tested three times and independent experts tested four times,” the statement read.

“In light of these seven rounds of testing, which all showed that the air in our Selma plant is completely safe, it should be obvious that OSHA’s current allegations are false.”