Asphyxia From Liquid Nitrogen Exposure Killed Workers: Autopsies

GAINESVILLE, GA — The six victims of a January accident at a Hall County chicken-processing plant were all asphyxiated due to liquid nitrogen exposure, according to autopsies by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The Hall County Sheriff’s Office announced Friday that it had received the autopsy results from the GBI.

"According to the death certificates, the cause of death for all six victims was asphyxia due to, or as a consequence of liquid nitrogen exposure," said the Hall County sheriff's statement.

The reports were the final step in authorities’ initial investigation of a horrific accident on Jan. 28, when liquid nitrogen used to flash-freeze chicken was inadvertently released at a production line at Foundation Food Group in Gainesville. Six workers died as a result, with at least a dozen more sent to area hospitals for treatment.

That facility had been investigated and fined multiple times before by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for health and safety violations, according to records.

The liquid-nitrogen incident is still under investigation by various federal, state and local agencies, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

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