Explosion at Pennsylvania Chocolate Factory Results in $44,000 Fine for Neglecting Evacuation

A Pennsylvania chocolate factory found itself facing a hefty fine of over $44,000 from the federal workplace safety agency due to its failure to evacuate prior to a natural gas explosion that tragically claimed seven lives.

The R.M. Palmer Co., implicated in this grave incident, did not respond to employee warnings concerning a suspected natural gas leak. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) issued multiple citations against the company.

According to Kevin T. Chambers, the Area Director of OSHA's Harrisburg office, "Seven workers will never return home because the R.M. Palmer Co. did not evacuate the facility after being told of a suspected gas leak. The company could have prevented this horrific tragedy by following required safety procedures."

Despite these accusations, Palmer steadfastly maintains that it did not violate any workplace safety standards and intends to challenge the OSHA citations, asserting that they lack legal and factual basis.

The devastating natural gas explosion resulted in the complete destruction of one building and severe damage to another within the Palmer factory complex located in West Reading. Investigators are actively examining two gas leaks as potential causes or contributors to this catastrophic incident.

During the time of the explosion on March 24, approximately 70 production workers and 35 office staff were present in two adjacent buildings. Both sets of employees reported detecting a gas odor before the explosion.

Workers at the plant have voiced grievances, asserting that Palmer disregarded warnings about the natural gas leak and that the plant, situated in a small town 60 miles northwest of Philadelphia, should have been evacuated.