The state House has passed a bill aimed at addressing natural gas safety concerns in the wake of the March 2023 fatal explosion at a West Reading chocolate factory.
The March 24 blast, which took the lives of seven workers when it leveled an R.M. Palmer Co. plant on South Second Avenue, was the result of a natural gas leak, according to an investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board.
The final report found that a cracked, out-of-use fitting allowed natural gas to leak into the basement of what was known as Building 2. The gas accumulated there and was ignited by an unknown source, causing an explosion and fire that killed seven workers, injured 10 and destroyed the building.
The old fitting developed cracks due to exposure to high temperatures, largely caused by steam escaping through a nearby pipe, the report found.
The legislation, introduced by Rep. Johanny Cepeda Freytiz, was crafted to prevent future, similar disasters from happening.
“Three years after this tragedy, and one year after the investigation concluded, we have now passed the final bill addressing its cause,” the Reading Democrat said. “There is an empty space in our community left by the seven lives we lost that day. Their families deserve action — action that ensures no other community has to endure the same heartbreak.”
House Bill 1522 would require the installation of natural gas alarms in businesses, residences and other buildings that use natural gas.
The bill passed the House 107-94 on Wednesday.
It was the third bill in a package of bills authored by Cepeda-Freytiz to address safety concerns in workplaces that use natural gas.
In January, the chamber passed House Bill 1525 requiring all owners and operators of pipelines transporting steam located in public rights-of-way to register with the Pennsylvania One Call System so property owners and construction workers know where steam lines are located and House Bill 1526 requiring the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission to work with natural gas pipeline operators to develop guidance and management programs to address threats to degrading plastic pipelines.
Cepeda-Freytiz said she will continue to push for the bills as they move through the Senate.
