Delays in shutting off gas after the explosion were attributed to improperly marked valves by UGI, with one critical valve even being paved over.

Frankie Gonzalez, who lost his sister in the explosion, expressed frustration that the tragedy could have been avoided, citing previous reports of gas smells that were ignored by the company.

NTSB board chair Jennifer Homendy emphasized that the company's revised evacuation policy remains inadequate, as it requires employees to investigate potential hazards before evacuating.

NTSB board member J. Todd Inman noted parallels between this explosion and a 1996 incident in Puerto Rico, both highlighting similar regulatory oversight failures.

On March 24, 2023, a powerful explosion at the R.M. Palmer Co. chocolate factory in West Reading, Pennsylvania, resulted in the tragic deaths of seven workers, primarily due to a corroded steam pipe and a defective natural gas fitting.

Federal investigators have accused the company of ignoring warnings about a natural gas leak and failing to evacuate its workers, which significantly contributed to the fatalities.

At the time of the explosion, around 105 employees were present, with many reporting a gas smell prior to the incident, highlighting a lack of effective emergency response protocols.

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) criticized R.M. Palmer for lacking natural gas emergency procedures that could have facilitated an immediate evacuation.

The NTSB's investigation revealed that UGI was aware of the steam pipe's condition but failed to notify safety managers during a 2021 gas line replacement, which could have prevented the explosion.

In response to the incident, the NTSB issued several recommendations, including the installation of gas leak detection alarms in buildings served by natural gas to prevent similar tragedies.

Concerns about the use of brittle plastic piping in natural gas systems were raised, particularly regarding a failed service tee made by DuPont, known for its tendency to crack.

The explosion caused significant damage, leveling one building and damaging another, with flames reaching over 40 feet and resulting in approximately $42 million in property damage.