Chocolate Plant Where Worker Died Operating Illegally

CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) -- Officials say a cocoa processing facility in New Jersey where a worker fell into a vat of melting chocolate and died was operating illegally.

Camden cited Lyons & Sons Inc. for not having a business license after Vincent Smith II died Wednesday. Authorities say the 29-year-old was hit by a paddle used to mix chocolate.

Company spokesman Kevin Feeley says it's a "misunderstanding" and Camden officials knew the firm was operating in the former Campbell Soup plant.

The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating the death.

The Philadelphia Inquirer also reports the federal Food and Drug Administration is monitoring the plant to make sure chocolate that came into contact with the victim does not get shipped.

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Looks like another High Integrity Company 7/10/2009 11:42:00 AM My heart goes to the worker's family, but does anyone think that the owners will be given justice for not having a business license? I doubt it. Money buys good lawyers!
Business Licenses 7/10/2009 12:35:00 PM The facts of the case don't even approach the sensational headline. Let's see now, the plant previously made soup for a highly regarded company, who probably found it getting too small. A new operation moves in, and uses the equipment in processing chocolate, and doesn't bother to pay the local government for an expensive business license. Assuming the locals knowing about this is true, the apparently simply let it slide, till they were looking for something wrong after a fatality. Politics as usual, and a young man with a lot of years in front of him dies. What I DON'T see here is any mention of emergency stop buttons or cables, etc. which should have been located within easy reach of anywhere an employee was likely to be. Just because it had never happened before, obviously didn't mean it couldn't happen as it did. Perhaps a lid over the kettle, with openings appropiate for adding ingrediants, but not workers to the mix? It would not have to be elaborate, just effective and dependable. As a Controls Engineer, I can see numerous safeguards that could have and should have been installed, probably ones that would have not been needed for the original use as a soup kettle, which probably also had a tight fitting cover. But all of this is "shoulda, woulda, coulda" analysis. At the very least, I can forsee OSHA or the state equivalent, or both looking closely at safeguard systems that were or were not in place, and possibly lax enforcement of proper procedures by management. The fact that the worker was new or a temp should have no bearing on the case, in my opinion after reading this and previous articles.
It's a real shame what happened 7/10/2009 12:49:00 PM ... but not having a business license is a pretty minor infraction and couldn't have directly had anything to do with the accident. I imagine the investigators went in and crawled all over the place looking for any safety/working-condition violations but the best they could come up with was a missing business license? Sounds like a fairly clean operation.
How would a business license help? 7/10/2009 2:08:00 PM It would only line government's pocket, not make the job safer or benefit the family of the deceased.
Missing the point 7/10/2009 3:12:00 PM Its not the license, it is the intent of not complying with required licensing that indicates a lack of integrity of the business owner. When a owner decides not to follow licensing requirements, what makes you think they would follow safety regulations? Integrity is always doing the "Right" thing even when nobody is looking!
Missing the point bleeding heart 7/10/2009 4:01:00 PM Missing the point is missing the point. This could have been a Camden City operating license. No where does it say where the license was supposed to be issued. If the city taxes weren't paid brther look out. The city would have crawled over the place with a fine tooth comb. OSHA will do the investigation. Send their fines. The company will be sued by the family and life goes on.
Issues 7/13/2009 8:19:00 AM I'm a controls engineer also. I see some INCREDIBLY unsafe equipment used every day in every industry. Expsed saw blades in the lumbner and wood shingling industries, open pits of plating chemicals, heck even INCREDIBLY unsafe tow ropes at ski lodges. The stuff just makes you CRINGE. ALSO as a small biz owner I know that every company is guilty of SOME infraction at ALL times when the authorities want to look. It's BS. Again, as a small biz owner, I'd need a STAFF of accountants and lawyers tyo keep up with all the petty legalities while the city/state rapes me in fees and taxes. And we wonder why companies put thier headquaters off shore - I don't agree with doing that but I can see why it happens. We are policing and taxing our businesses right out of this country. I am NOT suggesting companies shortcut any safety.

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