Factory Explosion Kills Two
Horrific Accident Raises Questions About Worker Safety
Two employees of a food color factory died in a fiery explosion on Tuesday, leaving behind a community in mourning and raising questions about worker safety.
The incident occurred at the Mars Food plant in Waco, Texas, around 10:30 a.m. According to Waco Fire Chief Bobby Tatum, the explosion occurred in a building where paprika was processed. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation.The two victims, identified as 44-year-old Michael Stanley and 56-year-old John Tilley, were both contractors who worked for an outside company. They are the sole fatalities from the explosion, which also injured two other workers.
The explosion sent shockwaves through the community and is being felt nationwide. In the wake of the tragedy, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation to determine if the plant violated any safety regulations.
The Mars Food plant has a history of safety violations. In the past three years, the company has been cited by OSHA for 15 violations, including failing to provide adequate safety training for employees and failing to properly maintain equipment.
In light of the recent explosion, the company has vowed to "take the necessary steps to strengthen our safety protocols and procedures."
