The Danger of an Incident
The horrific disaster at the Foundation Food Group factory rocked the whole world, leaving no one indifferent. The event took the lives of several workers and made everyone think about safety precautions. The nitrogen leak occurred at the beginning of the shift and was caused by a collapsed freezer holding chickens. It is essential to state that this tragedy was preventable. A company with such technology should have considered all hazards and possibilities of critical situations and pay proper attention to safety. Gainesville is one of the largest poultry processing centers, with a thirty million feet daily production scale. Foundation Food is one of the greatest corporations, and the turnover of its funds is enormous. However, the question of why an organization of this magnitude did not adhere to security procedures remains open (Hsu, 2021). They failed to implement the necessary methods to limit leaks, and the employees did not even recognize the dangers of liquid nitrogen. Therefore, the consequences are not a surprise because people cannot save themselves if they do not know how.
Furthermore, the facility did not have the necessary equipment to help preserve lives, so workers had almost no chance. Foundation Food stated its willingness to pay compensation, but such measures could not reduce grief. Had the available funds been used for their intended purpose, such as checking the equipment and keeping it in good condition, there would not have been a gas leak. It is also important to emphasize the emergency exits, blocking which also leads to fatalities, because people have nowhere to go quickly (Hsu, 2021). Thus, the absence of necessary knowledge and clear instructions and the lack of necessary means were the chief causes of the disaster. It is crucial to understand that safety measures are relevant for every factory because no one is immune to accidents, although their consequences can be avoided.
Possible Actions
In the future, if tragedy happens again, a team of workers should be alerted in time. A siren announces serious accidents; the warning system for employees must be tested twice a year. Thus, if they hear the sounds of the serena, they should leave the facilities quickly. Emergency exits will be open, and workers will be informed of safety procedures. Moreover, if a collapse occurs, employees must wear respiratory and skin protection (raincoat, cape, gloves, rubber boots, gas mask, cotton-gauze bandage). They must leave the accident area in the direction indicated in the serena announcement. Workers leaving the chemical hazard zone will face the side perpendicular to the wind direction (Hsu, 2021). After exiting the danger zone, employees will take off their outer clothing and remain outside. If possible, they should shower and wash their eyes and nasopharynx.
Recommendations
In recent years, the requirements for the tightness of cooling systems have greatly emerged. However, unfortunately, absolute tightness is still not possible invited. I would advise installers to regularly inspect refrigeration and air conditioning operations for leaks because refrigerant escaping from the system has an adverse effect on the environment. Additionally, I would suggest using mileage solutions to detect leaks in the refrigeration circuit of the system. There are special soap liquids with a sufficiently low density. That is, the main goal is to prevent nitrogen emissions. Hence, it is also essential to train workers to understand safety procedures and react quickly in case of a nitrogen leak.
Reference
Hsu, A. (2021). 6 poultry workers died from a nitrogen leak. OSHA has issued $1 million In fines. NPR. Web.