A group of 49 plaintiffs filed the suit in federal court in Knoxville on Thursday against Jacobs Engineering Group, the Associated Press reported.

The suits claims that workers were not provided with protective gear or allowed to wear their own while cleaning up coal ash spilt from the Kingston steam plant after a wall collapsed in December 2008.

It also alleges that officials knowingly lied to the workers, telling them fly ash was safe to drink.

The suit cites a long list of ailments suffered by the workers, including lung, eye, heart and sinus problems.

A jury trial and damages are being sought.