Chemical Leak at Georgia Food Processing Plant – Six Dead

by | Jan 29, 2021 | Industrial Accident, Personal Injury, Wrongful Death

There was a liquid nitrogen leak at the Foundation Foods processing plant in Gainesville, GA on Thursday, January 28, 2021.  Reports indicate a nitrogen leak at facility occurred on Thursday morning, resulting in the evacuation of 130 people.  It is not clear what caused the leak, which is believed to have involved liquid nitrogen used by a freezer at the plant.  The plant was recently owned by Prime Pak Foods.  At present, at least six people have died in the incident, with numerous additional workers requiring hospitalization due to injuries sustained.

The facility has been the subject of numerous OSHA investigations over the past few years.  Two incidents at the plant resulted in amputations in 2017.  OSHA deemed both incidents as a violation of regulations issued regarding operation of general machinery.

There have been a number of incidents at industrial and processing plants.  A fire broke out at the Washington Potato Co. processing plant in Warden, WA on Thursday, January 21, 2021.  A fire broke out at the Jaxon Energy Plant in Jackson, MS on Saturday, January 16, 2021.  An explosion occurred at the Hexpol Compounding Plant in Jonesborough, TN on Thursday, January 7, 2021.  An explosion occurred at the Arconic Mill Products facility in Manheim Township, Pennsylvania on Saturday, December 19, 2020.  In early December, an explosion occurred at the Chemours chemical plant in Belle, West Virginia. An oil tank explosion occurred at the Magellan Midstream Partners plant in Corpus Christi, Texas, on December 6, 2020.  At least seven contractors at the facility sustained injuries in the explosion.

Industrial plants can pose significant dangers both to workers at the facilities and to the general public.  When dangerous work is involved, extra precautions must be taken, especially when catastrophic chemical leaks can occur.  Although at this time it is not known what caused this incident, safe plant operators must always ensure that equipment is regularly inspected and safely maintained.  Not only can an incident like this result in a catastrophic impact on the environment, but it can also result in a loss of life.

Those touched by an industrial or plant accident should know their legal rights and remedies, and act quickly to preserve them. Our attorneys have extensive experience in cases involving industrial and plant personal injury and wrongful death, including those caused by fires and explosions. The firm has experience in courts across the country and the skills needed to represent the families of loved ones who have lost their lives as a result of the negligence of another party, or been seriously injured.  The experienced attorneys at Spagnoletti Law Firm can help you understand your rights if you or a loved one was a victim of a chemical leak or explosion at a processing plant.  Please contact us online or call 713-804-9306 or 877-678-5864 to learn more about your legal rights.