Companies implicated in an industrial accident that killed six workers early this year have been assessed fines totaling nearly a million dollars, the U.S. Occupational Health and Safety Administration has announced.
The accident occurred Jan. 28 at a poultry processing facility of Foundation Foods Group, previously known as Prime Pak Foods, in Gainesville, Ga. A discharge of liquid nitrogen from a malfunctioning freezer overcame six workers, five of whom died at the scene and one on the way to the hospital. Eleven others were injured.
OSHA cited Foundation Foods for exposing workers to the risk of nitrogen leaks, and failing to train them in risks and emergency procedures. It faces $595,474 in penalties.
Other penalties assessed in the incident include:
- Messer LLC, which supplied the nitrogen that leaked. It was fined $74,118 for violations including exposing workers to risk and not documenting or enforcing lockout procedures.
- FS Group, which provides and services equipment. It was fined $42,325 for failing to train workers about hazards, and other alleged violations.
- Packers Sanitation Services, a cleaning service. It was fined $286,720 for failing to train workers, failing to ensure that egress points were unobstructed, and other alleged violations.
“This horrible tragedy could have been prevented had the employers taken the time to use – and teach their workers the importance of – safety precautions,” OSHA regional administrator Kurt Petermeyer said in a statement. “Instead, six workers died as a result of their employers’ failure to follow necessary procedures and to comply with required safety and health standards. We hope other industry employers learn from this terrible incident and comply with safety and health requirements to prevent similar incidents.”
The companies have 15 days to appeal the fines.
