Two workers fall into vat of Galaxy chocolate as Mars factory fined over mishap
A chocolate factory has been fined after two workers fell into a vat of chocolate and had to be rescued by cutting hole in the bottom.
The incident happened at a factory in Pennsylvania belonging to Mars Wrigley who make M&Ms, Snickers and Twix.
The two workers, who were contractors and not full-time employees, fell into a mixing tank where Galaxy chocolate was being made. Galaxy is sold as Dove chocolate in the US.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has fined the factory in the city of Elizabethtown more than $14,500 (£12,000) for the June 2022 incident.
The regulator described the incident as "serious" and said the workers hired to clean the tanks were not provided proper safety training.
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Emergency services at the scene (ABC 7)More than 24 rescuers responded and a hole was cut into the partly-full tank to get the workers out.
One was taken to hospital by helicopter.
A spokesperson for Mars Wrigley welcomed the conclusion of the investigation by the regulator.
They said: "The safety of our associates and outside contractors is a top priority for our business.
"As always, we appreciate [the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's] collaborative approach to working with us to conduct the after-action review."
Mars Chocolate of North America factory in Elizabethtown, PA (The Washington Post via Getty Images)Mars Wrigley Confectionery is a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, a massive multinational that makes chocolates, sweets, pet food and even provides animal care.
Although the men weren't badly hurt, chocolate can be dangerous.
A woman, 19, suffered severe burns and "was going crazy" when she couldn't see after chocolate she was boiling in a pot exploded in her face.
Samantha D’Aprile, 19, a student from Illinois, US, nearly went blind after a frea k accident when she was making chocolate cookies with her mum in December, 2021, and a pot exploded.
Over 24 rescuers came to help the stricken workers (ABC 7)When she arrived at the hospital, her eyes had swollen shut and she was told by doctors she would most likely lose her sight.
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"When I found out my vision was almost gone, I said to the doctors I didn’t want to live anymore," Samantha said.
"I was in such a dark place and I was going crazy for the few days I couldn't see. I couldn’t picture the rest of my life like that.
"Going from having the perfect vision to the next day being told I could be blind for the rest of my life was the scariest thing I have ever been through and I couldn't wrap my head around it."
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