US worker dies in chocolate vat

[Praxius]

BBC NEWS | Americas | US worker dies in chocolate vat

A man has died after falling into a vat of hot chocolate at a factory in the US state of New Jersey. Vincent Smith Jr, 29, was emptying pieces of solid chocolate into the melting vat when he slipped from a platform into the 2.5m (8ft) deep unit. A spokesman for the local prosecutor's office said Mr Smith appeared to have died instantly from a blow to his head by a paddle mixing the chocolate. His colleagues at the factory tried to shut down the mixer, but were too late. Mr Smith was a temporary worker at the Cocoa Services Inc plant in the city of Camden. 'Need answers' Jason Laughlin, from the local county prosecutor's office, said: "There are paddles, called agitators, that are moving inside this vat. He was hit by one of them before someone could hit the shut-off valve." Investigators said the chocolate had reached 49F (120F). It was being melted in the factory before being shipped out to other companies to make into chocolate bars and other sweets. Mr Smith had been in the vat for about ten minutes before rescue crews arrived. Thombe Smith, told journalists: "We just really need to know what happened to my cousin. We just need some answers."......

Need some answers?

"Vincent Smith Jr, 29, was emptying pieces of solid chocolate into the melting vat when he slipped from a platform into the 2.5m (8ft) deep unit."

Inexperienced workers slip or do something stupid that kills or seriously injures themselves every year. Sometimes people die without any purpose.

I guess you could say this guy got his..... "Just Desert"

Although I imagine those responsible for his training and safety procedures will certainly be dragged through the fires.... as well they should be.

[Reflechir]

I just heard this this morning on the news also. What a horrible way to die.
Sometimes, there are just no answers or explanations. Thats why they are called "accidents".

[Cruella]

Bit confused by the desert reference, but ... Dangnabbit! Where's MattW when you need him?

[grandpa]

Quote by: Cruella Bit confused by the desert reference, but ...

It's an interesting story, and I could imagine a series of "death by chocolate" jokes rolling along, but
it looks like this is distracting rather than enlightening.

Grandpa h.

[tinybear]

Dying in chocolate is such sweet sorrow.

[Praxius]

Quote by: Cruella Bit confused by the desert reference, but ... Dangnabbit! Where's MattW when you need him?

I guess Death by Chocolate would have worked better... but besides the somehwat commical irony to an unfortunate situation designed for a distraction, I was also sorta leaning towards a bit of attention to work place accidents and training.

A huge campaign over the last few years where I live has been bombarding the tv and news papers for people to make sure they are aware of their WHMIS and OHS

Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System
Occupational Health and Safety

^ For those not in Canada and may use other forms of safety training.

Way too many people, mostly new/young workers die each year from work place accidents and improper training.

Apparently between 1993-2005, on average 5 people a day died from workplace accidents such as the above, accross Canada.

http://www.csls.ca/reports/csls2006-04-E.pdf

According to data collected by the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada, 1,097 workplace fatalities were recorded in Canada in 2005, up 45 per cent from 758 in 1993 and 18 per cent from 958 in 2004. As Canadians work on average 230 days per year, this means that there were nearly five work-related deaths per working day in this country. Workplace fatalities, unlike death in general, are in principle avoidable. Thus any workplace death should be unacceptable. It is therefore a matter of grave concern that the number of workplace fatalities in this country is increasing, not falling......

Ps.... what's Matt needed for? (In regards to the thread, not generally)

[Cruella]

Matt W is a well-known chocoholic (well, well-known in certain circles at least), I was hoping to tease him with this thread.

And, I think you meant dessert, not desert!

[Nono]

The Chocolate Song --- (Buddy Wasisname and the other fellas)

[barts]

One wonders if the press would have covered the story if Mr. Smith had fallen into a vat of molten steel or acid. I guess dying that way would not be quite so funny to them.

[Century 25]

Quote by: tinybear Dying in chocolate is such sweet sorrow.

Yes.. it is a bit ambiguous.. chocolate covered raisins are way up there on my list.. so good.. to die for..!!?? Eeek.. that's bad..

[tinybear]

Here's my question: why didn't his co-workers do anything to save him?

[Darkinstine]

Either they didn't see it happen or by time they got to him it was to late. I don't know the temp of melted chocolate but I imagine it would burn the crap out of you. That stuff being ingested into the stomach and lungs, not to mention how you would clear lung full of melted goo, would have to do massive damage very quickly.

[Deadeye]

Drowned in a vat of chocolate?


This is an old Smother's Brother routine.

Tommy: "Did you hear of the guy who drowned in a vat of chocolate?"

Dickie: "Oh, that's terrible. Why didn't someone go over and save him?"

Tommie: "Cause no one came when the guy yelled CHOCOLATE!"


They could have made the guy into a giant popcycle, but I'm not going to tell you where they put the stick.

I wonder if they wrapped his coffin in tin foil?

I can see it now; 500 years hense. A group of archeologists digging in an old cemetery. One guy is brushing something with a paint brush. He is intensely concentrating. "Hey" he exclaims. "I think we've found a 21st Century Hershey Bar!"

I know some women who would consider dieing in a vat of chocolate as the ideal way to go.

[Deadeye]

Quote by: tinybear Here's my question: why didn't his co-workers do anything to save him?

I'd guess because he wasn't done.

[Deadeye]

Quote by: barts One wonders if the press would have covered the story if Mr. Smith had fallen into a vat of molten steel or acid. I guess dying that way would not be quite so funny to them.

Yes, certainly dieing in a vat of chocolate would not be funny to the human chocolate covered raisin or to his family, but to everyone else it's a crack up.

[Praxius]

Quote by: Cruella Matt W is a well-known chocoholic (well, well-known in certain circles at least), I was hoping to tease him with this thread.

Ah... didn't know. Food for thought

And, I think you meant dessert, not desert!

I usually do that from time to time.

[Praxius]

Quote by: tinybear Here's my question: why didn't his co-workers do anything to save him?

They attempted to, but by the time they got to the emergency shut off, the paddle already cracked him in the head.

Since they claim that's what killed him, I'd assume those things go pretty fast.

[Deadeye]

I'll bet they ruined a heck of a lot of chocolate.

[tinybear]

Quote by: Praxius They attempted to, but by the time they got to the emergency shut off, the paddle already cracked him in the head. Since they claim that's what killed him, I'd assume those things go pretty fast.

So the paddle killed him. Not the chocolate.

[Jack]

Yes, but it's too hard to make a decent pun out of that fact.