Deadly Chocolate Factory Explosion Highlights Combustion Hazards
Last week’s deadly explosion at a Pennsylvania chocolate factory highlighted the combustibility of food factories in general and chocolate manufacturing in particular.
Friday’s powerful explosion at RM Palmer Co. killed seven people, sent 10 to hospitals and damaged several other buildings in West Reading, a small town 96 miles northwest of Philadelphia, where the 75-year-old family- La owned company has long had a factory.
Local, state and federal investigations are ongoing. Pennsylvania State Police say “everything is on the table” as firefighters try to determine its origin and cause. Some workers told relatives they had smelled natural gas before the explosion, although gas utility UGI said it had not received any reports of gas leaks. On Tuesday, federal officials said they were investigating a gas pipeline’s role in the blast.
A look at some of the dangers of food manufacturing and what may have been behind this fatal explosion:
THE RISKS
In general, commercial ovens and furnaces, commercial refrigerants using ammonia, and combustible dust produced by ingredients like cocoa powder and corn starch are the main explosion hazards in food factories, according to Holly Burgess, technical manager for industrial and chemical safety at the National Fire Protection Association. , a nonprofit group that produces hundreds of codes and standards.
“Most people, if you’ve never worked in food manufacturing, you don’t understand what your risks are and what you’re looking at,” Burgess said.
Chocolate manufacturers and other food manufacturers must take steps to mitigate dust-related fire and explosion hazards. Smaller particles that stay in the air pose a greater hazard than larger particles that quickly fall to the ground.
“It’s a common concern in many food production facilities handling fine combustible particles,” said Bob Zalosh, a retired Worcester Polytechnic Institute professor and fire hazard investigation and mitigation consultant. and industrial explosions.
Food manufacturers are expected to determine the combustibility of dust, perform a hazard analysis, and then take steps to manage it, adhering to the Fire Protection Association’s standard for preventing dust explosions in food processing plants.
Common dust control methods include dust collectors and industrial vacuum cleaners.
PALMER’S BREATH
One possible culprit for the explosion is highly flammable powdered starch, which confectionery companies often use to mold chocolate into shapes such as Easter eggs, said business consultant and scientist Terry Wakefield. in food who ran a manufacturing plant that supplied chocolate to RM Palmer. .
The shock wave from an initial explosion – potentially of natural gas – could have shaken off any accumulated dust on ceilings and other surfaces, he said. “And now you end up with a huge amount of starch, which is burning, and these explosion clouds are moving faster than sound and they have incredible force,” said Wakefield, who made his assessment after watching video of the explosion which was captured by a television. station weather camera.
“A lot of people don’t realize that starch can do this stuff,” he said.
Based on the types of candy made by Palmer, the company likely used the starch molding method, according to Wakefield.
Family business officials did not respond to questions from The Associated Press.
Dust explosions have long been a problem in manufacturing. Between 1980 and 2017, nearly 400 combustible dust fires and explosions killed 185 people and injured more than 1,000 across multiple industries, including food, chemicals, paper, pharmaceuticals and metal processing, according to the US Chemical Safety Board.
In 2008, a buildup of sugar dust ignited and blew up the Imperial Sugar plant in Port Wentworth, Georgia, killing 14 people.
WORK SAFETY RECORD
At least two workplace accidents have occurred at Palmer since 2018, according to federal records.
The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration, which regulates workplace safety, visited the Palmer plant in West Reading in 2018, when an employee lost the tip of a finger while cleaning a valve under pressure. The company agreed to pay a fine of $13,000.
In 2019, OSHA investigated an accident at the Palmer plant in nearby Wyomissing, Pennsylvania, when a treadmill was turned on while a worker was cleaning a roller, according to federal records. The employee’s arm was broken in several places. The company settled with OSHA for $26,000.
And in January, records show, OSHA fined more than $12,000 after an inspection at the Wyomissing plant. Details of this case were not available.
The online records said nothing about combustible dust or any other explosion hazard at Palmer.
DISPUTE FILED
A woman who lived next door to the plant filed a lawsuit Tuesday, alleging Palmer was negligent in failing to maintain her equipment and prevent the explosion. Betty Wright was “lifted off her feet and blown across the room”, suffering neck, back, hip and leg injuries, the suit said. She also lost property.
A statement from Wright’s attorneys at Morgan & Morgan said the firm had assembled a “team of experts so that we can understand what caused this catastrophic explosion.”
Further trials are expected.
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