GAINESVILLE, Ga. — A federal agency says a damaged piece of equipment released deadly liquid nitrogen in a poultry processing plant in Gainesville nearly three years ago, killing six workers. A U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board (CSB) investigation report revealed the deaths were entirely preventable.
It all took place on the morning of January 28, 2021, at a poultry processing facility in Gainesville owned by Foundation Food Group (FFG). Some of those killed lost their lives trying to save their coworkers.
The plant used liquid nitrogen to freeze processed chicken quickly.
Six people were fatally asphyxiated when it overflowed from a freezer, then vaporized and filled a room with a four to five-foot-high cloud. Three other employees and a firefighter were injured but survived.
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Photos: 6 killed in Gainesville liquid nitrogen leak
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The CSB concluded that the company's absence of monitoring equipment and warning systems led to the deaths. The report also says workers there lacked training on the hazards of liquid nitrogen.
"This needless and senseless tragedy was completely preventable. Six people died, and four others were seriously injured because of a bent tube and FFG’s failure to have critical monitoring equipment and warning alarms and FFG’s failure to adequately train and equip its employees to respond safely to a liquid nitrogen release," CSB Chairperson Steve Owens said in a release.
After the accident, FFG sold the facility to Gold Creek Foods.
The report calls on the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to issue national cryogenic asphyxiants like liquid nitrogen standards.
According to the investigative report, the plant's current owner does not use liquid nitrogen in the building where the accident occurred.