It was January 2021. Workers at the former Foundation Food Group poultry processing plant in Gainesville used liquid nitrogen to freeze pre-made poultry products quickly. Liquid nitrogen escaped from a bent tube and sent up a nearly 5-foot vapor cloud.
Nitrogen is colorless and odorless.
Three people entered the room and died immediately of asphyxiation. Several more people rushed to help their coworkers, while two more died on-site and one on the way to the hospital.
Read this story now for free
To continue reading, sign up for our newsletter and get unlimited access to WABE.org
You can select your preferences for news and local content. We will never share your email address. Learn how your newsletter sign-up will support WABE and Public Media