When a consultant does other work for the company, it creates either the actual danger or perceived danger of a conflict of interest. The consultant should either work for the board, or work for the company.

When they pressure management to defend itself, it creates greater accountability. It forces management to explain its reasoning. The other shareholders can make up their minds whether they agree or disagree. Let the shareholders decide.

When you see something like this, it begs asking what failure in their system led to this. Why didn't anyone pick it up?

The problem comes when you say that danger is part of the equation. Then you don't do any more work on safety. That shouldn't happen.

The company has voluntarily stepped up to say they will do the investigation and they hired a consultant who will do work and the information is shared with both agencies.

The danger when you're in your 40s and 50s is to be house-rich and cash-poor.