Two workers rescued from a chocolate-filled tank at the Mars Wrigley plant in Pennsylvania
The workers, who have not been publicly identified, were taken to a hospital – one by helicopter, Nick Schoenberger, an assistant supervisor for the dispatch center, told CNN.
A spokesman for Mars Wrigley, which makes M & M’s, Snickers and other sweets, confirmed in a statement to The Washington Post on Friday that the workers were taken out of the site for evaluation. “We are extremely grateful for the rapid work of the first aiders,” it said.
Their circumstances were not immediately known.
Leni Fortson, a spokeswoman for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which is investigating the incident, said workers were carrying out maintenance work inside the tub when they were captured.
It is still unclear how the workers got stuck in the tank and how much chocolate was in it at the time. PennLive reported that broadcasters thought the chocolate was approximately at waist level. Broadcasters also thought it was dry chocolate, according to NBC’s “Today”.
Fortson said the workers were employed by IK Stoltzfus Service Corp., a company that offers industrial paint, cleaning and tank repairs. When asked about the incident and the employees’ medical status, a woman who answered the phone on Friday morning at IK Stoltzfus Service Corp. refused. to comment and referred questions to Mars Wrigley. Mars Wrigley will not provide further information.
OSHA said it has six months to complete the investigation and release the findings.
