From: pzavon**At_Symbol_Here**ROCHESTER.RR.COM
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Liquid nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant kills 6
Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2021 10:00:51 -0500
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Message-ID: 001001d6f974$334d8810$99e89830$**At_Symbol_Here**rochester.rr.com
In-Reply-To <3228AF9D-A6FA-430B-962C-F46090483D40**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com>


CSB is pretty good at going beyond a failing widget.

 

Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com

 

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Johnnie Banks
Sent: Tuesday, February 2, 2021 2:34 AM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Liquid nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant kills 6

 

Thanks, Richard. Would be interesting to peruse any MOC dox. Training of personnel in the new system would also be a key level of inquiry. Who installed, what kind of turnover to the plant occurred (and PSSR if any). What is the level of vigilance for personnel regarding nitrogen. (Hazard awareness). Hope this doesn't just devolve into  widget failing without addressing systemic failures. Did any of the fatalities occur from rescue efforts?  Six fatalities on a nitrogen release is huge. 

Sent from my iPhone



On Feb 1, 2021, at 10:46 PM, Richard Rosera <richardrosera**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com> wrote:

=EF=BB=BFHere is a link to the CSB update on the investigation as of February 1:  https://www.csb..gov/statement-from-csb-chairman/

 

Richard Rosera, BS & MS ChemE, MBA

Rosearray EHS Services LLC

1958 Northgate Drive

Manteca, CA 95336

Mobile:  908-279-4463



On Jan 31, 2021, at 3:20 PM, Richard Rosera <richardrosera**At_Symbol_Here**gmail.com> wrote:

 

The CSB just posted their initial 28 minute news conference about the investigation:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJrmKL1PB2U.  Ben Schrader is the Investigator in Charge for the CSB, but the information was primarily provided by CSB Chair Dr. Katherine Lemos.

 

A few highlights:

  • The site has 5 plants which process poultry, and the incident occurred at plant #4.
  • Plant #4 used 2-3 tank trucks per day of liquid N2 for flash freezing, and this was stored outside the plant in liquid storage tanks.
  • New equipment for flash freezing was installed & commissioned within the last 4-6 weeks, but it is not yet known when it actually went into flash freezing service.
  • Tools were found at the site of the release, but it is not yet known what the significance of this is.
  • The site maintenance manager manually closed the valves feeding liquid N2 into the plant from the liquid N2 storage tanks after the release (no indication of timeline yet).
  • Dr. Lemos extended condolences to the families of the dead and injured in both English and Spanish.
  • One reporter at the press conference asked about undocumented workers at the site (little information provided except to indicate that interviews were taking place, mostly by OSHA).
  • Dr. Lemos indicated that other plants at the site might still be operating at some unspecified reduced level.
  • There was no indication concerning the continuing use (if any) of liquid N2 at other plants at the site.

 

Richard Rosera, BS & MS ChemE, MBA

Rosearray EHS Services LLC

1958 Northgate Drive

Manteca, CA 95336

Mobile:  908-279-4463



 

Several decades ago, a fork truck fell through the wooden floor of an apple storage warehouse in a nearby county.  In falling straight down, ammonia lines used in the refrigeration system were ruptured.  The HazMat team had to almost physically restrain the other emergency responders from running in to try to save the driver, who could be seen sitting upright in the fork truck.  He had been killed almost immediately by the ammonia vapors.  

 

I imagine some sort of similar sudden release occurred in this incident.

 

 

Peter Zavon, CIH
Penfield, NY

PZAVON**At_Symbol_Here**Rochester.rr.com

 

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Eugene Ngai
Sent: Friday, January 29, 2021 4:56 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Liquid nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant kills 6

 

Based on this from the 911 operator it was obviously a major line or system failure that quickly overwhelmed anyone nearby

 

The operator advised the caller not to touch the liquid nitrogen for their safety. 

 

"I've got two that are cold, it feels like they're gone," he said. "I've got one that's got a body temperature that's quite cold. It seems like they're freezing."

 

During the call, the plant was being evacuated. Screams could be heard in the background.

 

"I'm standing with a guy who's been frozen by liquid nitrogen. He's barely breathing," he said.

 

The operator walked him through CPR, and eventually, 10 minutes into the call, Hoover said that a firefighter had taken over the treating the worker.

 

 

Eugene Ngai

Chemically Speaking LLC

 

 

 

From: eugene_ngai**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net <eugene_ngai**At_Symbol_Here**comcast.net> 
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2021 7:44 PM
To: 'ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety' <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: RE: [DCHAS-L] Liquid nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant kills 6

 

Probably had one. Given the number of fatalities and injuries, my guess was that it was a huge liquid leak that quickly overwhelmed anyone nearby. O2 sensor would have been useless. Only takes one brather and you go down. Since liquid N2 is cold the vapors will be at ground level where they are. Am trying to get details on this incident

 

 

Eugene Ngai

Chemically Speaking LLC

 

 

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> On Behalf Of Reinhardt, Peter
Sent: Thursday, January 28, 2021 6:07 PM
To: DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU
Subject: Re: [DCHAS-L] Liquid nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant kills 6

 

How much does an oxygen sensor/alarm cost? -- Pete

 

From: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU> on behalf of Rob Torkei <info**At_Symbol_Here**ILPI.COM>
Reply-To: ACS Division of Chemical Health and Safety <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Date: Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 5:12 PM
To: "DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU" <DCHAS-L**At_Symbol_Here**Princeton.EDU>
Subject: [DCHAS-L] Liquid nitrogen leak at Georgia poultry plant kills 6

 

 

GAINESVILLE, Ga, -- A liquid nitrogen leak at a northeast Georgia poultry plant killed six people Thursday, with multiple others taken to the hospital, officials said.

 

At least three of those injured at the Foundation Food Group plant in Gainesville were reported in critical condition.

 

Poultry plants rely on refrigeration systems that can include liquid nitrogen. Firefighters, the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the state fire marshal were investigating the cause of the leak.

 

"It was a leak of unknown cause that has occurred in the system here," Hall County Fire Department Division Chief Zach Brackett said. "We still have a lot of information we're trying to gather from the scene."

 

Foundation Food Group Vice President for Human Resources Nicholas Ancrum called the leak a tragic accident and said early indications are that a nitrogen line ruptured in the facility.

 

 

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