Hershey Fined $140,000 for Accident at Oakdale Plant That Severed Arm
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The nation's largest candy company has been fined the maximum amount of $140,000 for an accident at its plant in Stanislaus County.
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health issued a fine and two citations to The Hershey Company for an accident in March that severed a worker's arm at the shoulder at the Oakdale chocolate factory.
The worker, Erica Domen, was injured when another worker accidentally switched on a huge batter machine as Domen was cleaning it.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}California officials say the violations were classified as "serious and willful," but Hershey spokesman Kirk Saville says the company has "strong safety programs" in all its plants.
Hershey has until Aug. 12 to pay the fines for the March accident, but a Hershey spokeswoman says the company plans to appeal.