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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, May 24, 2006

Candy conveyor OK'd for safety

By Eloise Aguiar
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Kalihi candy company where a toddler lost her hand during a tour of the factory has passed a safety inspection on the equipment that injured the girl.

The state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations inspected a conveyor belt that caught and crushed the hand of the 18-month old child on May 13.

James Hardway, special assistant to the Labor Department director, said the equipment at the Menehune Mac Chocolate Center and Gift Factory met federal and state safety standards.

"It was properly guarded for the employees that work there," Hardway said. "It had the necessary machine guards in place that would protect the employees from becoming injured by moving parts of the machine."

Menehune Mac, also known as Hawaii Candies and Nuts Ltd., was hosting a fundraiser for the Hawai'i Children's Cancer Foundation where children make candy for mom, grandma or other relatives.

The event was limited to children 7 years and older, and several groups had participated in the program. This was the fifth year that Menehune Mac held the fundraiser.

Request for comments were referred to Chris Parsons of Becker Communications Inc. Parsons said the company hasn't seen the state's decision and can't comment, but it is concerned for the child and her family.

"They're empathetic and they really don't want to add to any of the stress that's on the family," Parsons said. "They're going to try and do the right thing."

Reach Eloise Aguiar at eaguiar@honoluluadvertiser.com.