Skip to main content

Candy factory didn’t evacuate concerned workers before Pennsylvania explosion that killed 7, OSHA finds

Factory explosion in Pennsylvania

OSHA Reports No Employee Evacuation Prior to Deadly Explosion at Pennsylvania Chocolate Factory

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has released a statement asserting that a chocolate factory in eastern Pennsylvania failed to evacuate workers, despite reports of a gas odor, before a deadly explosion in March. The tragic incident resulted in the loss of seven lives and injured numerous others.

OSHA Cites Pennsylvania-based Candy Manufacturer

R.M. Palmer, a well-known candy manufacturer in Pennsylvania, has been cited by OSHA for not evacuating its workforce during a natural gas leak. The company was also faulted for not having properly marked exit signage and for the use of spliced flexible cords in their West Reading factory, according to an official OSHA citation.

"Seven workers never made it home because R.M. Palmer didn't clear the facility after a reported gas leak," cited Kevin T. Chambers, OSHA Area Director, in a recent press release. He continued, saying "Companies are not only expected but legally obliged to ensure workplace safety. By adhering to essential safety protocols, this horrific tragedy could have been avoided."

R.M. Palmer Factory Explosion Details and Aftermath

The catastrophic event took place just before 5 pm on March 24, utterly demolishing the R.M. Palmer facility and leaving the tight-knit community of West Reading astounded. For over 60 years, this town of approximately 4,500 residents has been the hub of R.M. Palmer's operations, a company renowned for producing holiday-themed chocolate treats.

The victims of the explosion were identified as Amy Sandoe, 49, of Ephrata; Domingo Cruz, 60, Reading; Xiorky D. Nunez, 30, of Reading; Susan H. Halvonik, 63, Upper Providence Township; Michael D Breedy, 62, Marion Township; Diana M. Cedeno, 44, of Reading; and Judith Lopez-Moran, 55, of Reading. Another eleven were hospitalized due to injuries sustained from the blast.

NTSB Investigation Findings

Following the explosion, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) conducted an investigation that revealed two leaks in the natural gas service lines – one in a service tee fitted in 1982 with a top crack and another smaller leak in a service line installed in 2021, as stated in a NTSB report made in July.

R.M. Palmer's Response to OSHA Citations

In response to the citations and penalties proposed by OSHA, R.M. Palmer has issued a statement, expressing their disagreement with the allegations of workplace standards violation. The company further denounced OSHA's statements about the violations as "inflammatory, callous, and irresponsible."

R.M. Palmer maintained and emphasized that the mentioned gas leaks were not within the company's premises but rather under a public street, as the July NTSB update did not specify that the leaks were inside any of their buildings.

"Without the completion of the NTSB's comprehensive investigation, there isn't a valid basis to assess OSHA's claim that an evacuation could have prevented the unfortunate loss of seven lives," stated R.M. Palmer.

The company, in operation since 1948, also mentioned that it has already contested the proposed penalties and citations from OSHA totaling $44,483. R.M. Palmer has approximately 850 employees across North America.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

New Orleans residents brace for salt water intrusion as Biden declares national emergency

Federal Emergency Declared as New Orleans Faces Threat of Saltwater Intrusion The water infrastructure of New Orleans is under threat from saltwater intrusion, triggering a federal emergency declaration by President Joe Biden. Biden Responds to Impending Crisis In response to diminishing fresh water levels in the Mississippi River due to irregular rainfall patterns, President Joe Biden sanctioned a declaration of federal emergency. This concern arises from the rising saltwater levels beneath the depleting fresh water, a situation emerging over the last couple of months. This recent development has the potential to seriously jeopardize New Orleans' water infrastructure. Implications of the Saltwater Intrusion Historically, the Mississippi River's stronger current and an underwater sill have kept the saltwater intrusion at bay. However, the saltwater layer managed to override the sill on Monday, infiltrating the drinking water supply of Plaquemines Parish, Louisia...
Post a Comment
Read more

New details emerge about the slaying of beloved Baltimore tech CEO and the suspect in her killing

Emerging Information about the Alleged Murder of Renowned Tech CEO Pava LaPere and Her Assumed Killer New developments are shedding light on the alleged murder of celebrated Baltimore tech executive, Pava LaPere. Court documents suggest that moments before she was supposedly killed, surveillance cameras recorded her would-be assailant tailing her into her apartment building's elevator. Several days later, her body was found on the roof of the same building. Suspect Allegedly Caught on Camera The court papers provide fresh insights into an alleged interaction between LaPere and the man accused of her murder, Jason Dean Billingsley. Billingsley, a registered sex offender with an existing warrant for his arrest, was following the victim on a Friday night, unidentified law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation told CNN. Thousands of people are mourning LaPere, the CEO and co-founder of the tech startup, EcoMap Technologies, who is belie...
Post a Comment
Read more

New Jersey authorities probe fatal 2018 crash involving Sen. Bob Menendez's wife

New Jersey Probes are Investigating Fatal Crash Connected to Sen. Bob Menendez's Wife The New Jersey attorney general's office, along with the Bergen County prosecutor's office, is reportedly digging deeper into a fatal 2018 car crash that involved Nadine Menendez, the wife of Senator Bob Menendez. The investigative authorities are said to be keenly examining if any undue influence was leveraged by any parties connected to the car crash's enquiry initially led by local police in Bogota, New Jersey, identified sources told ABC News. A Fatal Night, A Growing Investigation In an unfortunate incident from 2018, one man lost his life in a car crash while Nadine Menendez was behind the wheel. Despite the gravity of the situation, or perhaps due to unseen influences, Nadine Menendez was quickly released by law enforcement officers attending the scene without conducting a standard sobriety test, as the dashcam footage from the fateful night indicates. The Ne...
Post a Comment
Read more