Chocolate companies fined for worker death

Two New Jersey companies have been fined after a tragic death in a candy plant in Camden.

Two New Jersey companies have been fined after a tragic death in a candy plant in Camden.

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[audio: 100112TMCHOCOLATE.mp3]

Lyons and Sons has been fined $21,000 dollars and Cocoa Services $17,000 dollars for violations related to the death of Vincent Smith. In July, he fell into a tank converting hard chocolate into liquid chocolate.

Paula Dixon-Roderick is director of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s offices in Marlton. She says the two companies were cited for 12 violations in the death.

Dixon-Roderick: A lack of railing on the floor opening or the working platform that the employees were working on around the melting tank. Employees were also exposed to a nine foot fall for not having that railing, the employee also failed to have some warning signs letting the employees know that there was a fall hazard.

Roderick says any worker who feels they are in an unsafe working environment should contact OSHA and she says any tips would be kept confidential.