US authorities are investigating the strange case of two workers who were trapped inside a tank full of chocolate on Thursday. at a Mars Wrigley factory in Pennsylvania.
Emergency crews were called Thursday afternoon to the factory in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania, about 9 miles from the chocolate capital Hershey. Brad Wolfe, communications supervisor for Lancaster County 911 Dispatch, told CNN what firefighters had to “cut a hole in the side of the tank to get them out.”
The workers, who have not been publicly identified, were taken to a hospital, one by helicopter, he told CNN Nick Schoenberger, assistant dispatch center supervisor.
A spokesman for Mars Wrigley, which makes M&M’s, Snickers and other candies, confirmed in a statement Friday to The Washington Post that the workers were taken off-site for evaluation. “We are extremely grateful for the quick work of the paramedics“, He said.
However, the company has not provided further information and the health status of the employees is unknown.
Leni Fortson, a spokeswoman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is investigating the incident, said that workers were doing maintenance work inside the tub that was full of chocolate when they got trapped.It is still unclear how the workers got trapped in the tank and how much chocolate was in it at the time.. PennLive reported that dispatchers believed the chocolate was waist-high. Dispatchers also believed it was dry chocolate, according to Today of NBC.
Fortson said the workers were employed by IK Stoltzfus Service Corp., an industrial painting, cleaning and tank repair company. When asked about the incident and the employees’ medical status, a woman who answered the phone Friday morning at IK Stoltzfus Service Corp. declined to comment, referring questions to Mars Wrigley. Mars Wrigley did not provide further information.
OSHA said it has six months to complete its investigation and publish its findings. It is expected that in the coming days the investigation of the authorities will give more information on the case. The company is also expected to provide details on the health status of its employees to find out if it was a case of negligence and if their condition is serious.
Recently, u39-year-old worker died after falling into a 1,430 degree Celsius cast iron vatleaving half of his body lying on the floor.
Steven Dierkes, from Peoria, Illinois (United States), he was apparently working by a crucible when he fell to his death instantly, according to Peoria County Coroner Jamie Harwood.
Harwood said the events surrounding Dierkes’ death were accidental and no crime is suspected at this time.
(c) 2022, The Washington Post
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