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## Occupational Safety and Health Administration

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### Inspection Detail

**Case Status: OPEN**

**Note:** The following inspection has not been indicated as closed. Please be aware that the information shown may change, e.g. violations may be added or deleted.  For open cases, in which a citation has been issued, the citation information may not be available for 5 days following receipt by the employer for Federal inspections or for 30 days following receipt by the employer for State inspections.

#### **Inspection: 1659063.015 - R. M. Palmer Company**

**Inspection Information - Office: Harrisburg**

 

**Inspection Nr**

**Report ID**

**Date Opened**

----

**Site Address**: 			   R. M. Palmer Company			   77 South 2nd AvenueWest Reading, PA 19611

**Mailing Address**: 			   800 Van Reed Rd, Wyomissing, PA 19610

**Union Status**: NonUnion

**SIC**:

**NAICS**: 311351 

----

**Inspection Type**: Fat/Cat

**Scope**: Partial

**Advanced Notice**: N

**Ownership**: Private

**Safety/Health**: Safety

**Close Conference**: 03/24/2023

**Emphasis**:

**Case Closed**: 

----

**Case Status: OPEN**

#### **Investigation Summary**

**Investigation Nr**

**Event**

At 5:00 p.m. on March 24, 2023, Employee #1 and Employee #2 were in the basement Building #2, which is part of a chocolate novelties manufacturer site, reportedly investigating a gas leak. Employee #3 and Coworker #1 (Contractor) were outside Building #2 observing and getting fresh air due to the gas odor. Employee #4 and Employee #5 were entering the building from the first floor. Employee #6, Employee #7, Employee #8, Employee #9 and Employee #10 were inside the building working preparing to change over production lines. The natural gas buildup in the basement of Building #2 exceeded the LEL and made its way to an ignition source resulting in an explosion. Seven employees including the Plant Manager, HR Director, two Foilers, two Packers and one Maintenance worker were killed. In addition, three employees who worked as a Demolder/Line Tech, a Packer and a Utitilties Laborer, as well as one contractor, were hospitalized. Also, three employees were transported to the hospital, where there were treated

**Keywords:**building collapse, burn, collapse, crushed, defect, defective, electrical, explosion, fire, flying object, food processing, gas, gas leak, high pressure, ignite, ignition, inspecting, leak, multi-employer worksite, mult
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