ELIZABETHTOWN, Pa. (AP) — Federal workplace safety authorities have fined a central Pennsylvania confectionery factory more than $14,500 following an accident last year in which two workers fell into a vat of chocolate.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration cited Mars Wrigley in the June crash at the M&M/Mars Elizabethtown plant, saying workers weren’t allowed to work in the tanks and didn’t were not trained in the proper safety procedures for the equipment.
Officials said two workers employed by an outside company fell into the partially filled chocolate tank during maintenance work. Rescuers were able to free the pair by drilling a hole in the bottom of the tank, officials said. Both were taken to hospitals, one of them by helicopter.
A company representative told reporters last week that the safety of workers and contractors “is a top priority for our business.”
“As always, we appreciate OSHA’s collaborative approach to working with us to conduct the after action review,” the rep said.