A factory making M&Ms and Mars bars has been fined more than $14,500 (£12,000) after an incident in which two workers fell into a tub of chocolate.
The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) sued Mars Wrigley in the June 2022 incident at the M&M/Mars factory in Pennsylvania, saying workers were not authorized to work in the tanks and had not been trained in procedures appropriate safety measures for the equipment.
Officials said the two workers, who were employed by an outside contractor, fell into the partially filled chocolate tank while carrying out maintenance work at the Elizabethtown site.
Rescuers were able to free the pair by cutting a hole in the bottom of the tank, officials said.
Both were taken to hospital, one by helicopter.
A company representative told reporters last week that the safety of workers and outside contractors “is a top priority for our business.”
“As always, we appreciate OSHA’s collaborative approach in working with us to conduct the after-action review,” said the representative.
More like this:
The science behind why we love chocolate
Because supermarkets already sell Easter eggs
Mars Wrigley makes chocolate, bubble gum, mints and other sweets.
The two companies merged in 2008 when Mars gained full control of Wrigley after acquiring the remaining shares owned by billionaire Warren Buffett.
