2021 Georgia poultry plant accident
34°16′02″N 83°51′31″W / 34.26719°N 83.85867°W
| Date | January 28, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Time | 10:00 a.m., EST |
| Location | Gainesville, Georgia, U.S. |
| Deaths | 6 |
| Non-fatal injuries | 10 |
The 2021 Georgia poultry plant accident was an
Background
Gainesville has many poultry processing plants employing thousands of people,[2] earning the city the nickname "Poultry capital of the world".[3] The plant where the accident occurred was owned by Prime Pak Foods until January 2021, when it merged into Foundation Food Group.[2] The facility processes raw chicken for foodservice and commercial sale.[4]
The air humans breathe contains ~78%
Leakage and emergency response
The liquid nitrogen leak occurred shortly after 10:00 a.m.
Investigation
Hall County Fire Department Division Chief Zach Brackett stated that firefighters, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and the Georgia state fire marshal are investigating the cause of the leak.[2] The U.S. Chemical Safety Board is also investigating.[9] The cause has yet to be determined.[4]
OSHA's investigation determined that the leak occurred as a result of a freezer malfunction, which released liquid nitrogen that rapidly vaporized and displaced the oxygen in the confined space of the freezer room.[7][8] The agency found that Foundation Food Group had failed to adequately train its employees on the hazards associated with liquid nitrogen in confined spaces, failed to implement a permit-required confined space program, and failed to implement an appropriate lockout–tagout procedure for the freezers, among other violations.[7] Officials, including U.S. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh, called the six deaths "entirely avoidable."[8][10]
See also
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration
- U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board
- Inert gas asphyxiation
References
- ^ a b Sharpe, Joshua (March 12, 2021). "Cause of death released for Gainesville poultry plant workers". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved June 23, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Amy, Jeff (January 28, 2021). "Liquid nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant kills 6". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 2021-01-28. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ Balk, Tim (January 28, 2021). "6 dead after nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant". New York Daily News. Archived from the original on 2021-01-28. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i Watson, Nick (January 28, 2021). "6 killed after liquid nitrogen leak at Prime Pak in Gainesville, more than 130 others being treated, evaluated". Gainesville Times. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
- ISBN 0-387-98746-0
- ISBN 978-1-4987-5428-6
- ^ a b c d "US Department of Labor cites Foundation Food Group Inc., three other companies after Jan. 28 investigation finds six deaths were preventable". Occupational Safety and Health Administration. July 23, 2021. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ a b c Vlamis, Kelsey (July 23, 2021). "Companies were fined $1 million after officials said a poultry plant leak that killed 6 employees was 'entirely avoidable'". Business Insider. Retrieved July 24, 2021.
- ^ "Foundation Food Group Fatal Chemical Release". U.S. Chemical Safety Board. Retrieved July 26, 2021.
- New York Times. Retrieved July 25, 2021.