U.S. regulators have fined Mars Wrigley, the maker of M&M’s and Snickers, following an accident last June when two workers fell into a tank of chocolate at its factory in Elizabethtown, Pennsylvania.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) imposed a fine of more than $14,500 for the incident, citing it as “serious” in a
report.
Officials said two workers employed by an outside contracting firm fell into the partially filled chocolate tank while doing maintenance work.
“Employees of an outside employer, I.K. Stoltzfus Service Corp., cleaned tanks, including the Dove chocolate batching 20 micron tank, owned by the onsite/host employer, Mars Wrigley,” the report said.
The two contractors were not authorized to work in the tanks and weren’t trained on the proper safety procedures for the equipment, leading to the accident, according to the report.
“The employer did not ensure that the employee had the knowledge of the type and magnitude of the energy for the task,” said OSHA, adding: “The host employer did not provide the outside employer with the correct energy control procedure or work authorization permit.”
In June 2022, first responders were called to the Mars Wrigley Confectionery and found the two workers trapped in a tank full of chocolate,
local media reported.
The fire crews had to cut a hole in the side of the chocolate tank to help the two individuals escape. According to
reports, both were taken to the hospital, where one of the workers was transported by helicopter. It was unclear how they fell into the chocolate tank.
In response to the incident, a representative from Mars Wrigley stressed that the company is committed to the safety of its employees and contractors.
“The safety of our associates and outside contractors are a top priority for our business,” a spokesperson for Mars Wrigley said in a statement. “As always, we appreciate OSHA’s collaborative approach to working with us to conduct the after-action review.”
Mars Wrigley is a confectionary giant formed by the merger of Mars and Wrigley in 2008. The producer manufactures several popular chocolates and candies, including M&M’s, Mars bars, Milky Way bars, Skittles, Snickers, Dove chocolate, and Twix.
