Read-aloud huddle
On January 28, 2021, a liquid nitrogen release killed six workers at Foundation Food Group, a poultry processing facility in Gainesville, Georgia. CSB found that at least 14 employees entered the freezer room or surrounding area to investigate or attempt rescue. Workers could not recognize an oxygen-deficient atmosphere and lacked equipment for safe entry. CSB findings
Our planning lesson for work near nitrogen systems: do not enter a suspected release area to attempt an unplanned rescue. Report the emergency, evacuate using the site's emergency procedures, and contact trained responders. Before work, confirm the alarm, exit route, accountability method and rescue roles. These are adaptable planning prompts; confirm the procedures that apply here. Emergency-plan elements
What the investigation found
CSB traced the release to a bent bubbler tube in the freezer's liquid nitrogen control system. Nitrogen overflowed and vaporized into the room. CSB also found missing atmospheric monitoring and alarms, and inadequate emergency preparedness that worsened the incident. These are findings from a historical food-processing case. The crew prompts below are proposed actions to adapt to today's work. CSB findings
Adaptable controls and crew discussion
Use the task's hazard assessment to consider elimination or substitution first, then engineering controls, safe work practices and administrative controls, and finally PPE. OSHA recommends this priority and checking that controls work. For nitrogen systems, ask the responsible technical lead to verify appropriate atmospheric monitoring and alarms; CSB identified their absence in this case. OSHA control guidance · CSB findings
OSHA's general-industry emergency-plan rule, 1910.38, applies when another standard in Part 1910 requires a plan. Its elements provide a useful discussion guide: emergency reporting, evacuation routes, employee accountability and rescue duties. Confirm requirements for this work with the responsible safety lead. 1910.38(a), (c)
- Where could today's work put us near a nitrogen release, and what alarm or warning requires evacuation?
- How will we report an emergency, account for everyone and contact trained responders without making an unplanned entry?
- What stop-work and no-retaliation procedures apply here, and how do we raise a concern? Confirm them with the site lead.
Assign, verify and close the loop
Adapt this checklist together. Name an owner with authority to act and agree on a due time for each item. OSHA recommends assigning responsibility, setting completion dates and verifying effectiveness. Control planning guidance
- Confirm the nitrogen hazard assessment and evidence that required monitoring and alarms have been checked. Owner: Assign responsible technical lead: ____ Due: Before work near the system: ____
- Walk through reporting, exit routes, accountability and trained-response contacts; confirm rescue roles and site stop-work/no-retaliation procedures. Owner: Assign crew/site lead: ____ Due: Before work begins: ____
- Record unresolved gaps, assign corrective actions and verify completion before affected work proceeds. Owner: Assign person authorized to resolve gaps: ____ Due: Agree on completion time: ____
Verification question: Can someone show the monitoring/alarm check evidence and explain our exit route, accountability method and responder contact?
Close-the-loop question: At the next huddle, which gaps were closed, who verified them and what still needs action?
Note: Comprehension check: Should you enter a suspected nitrogen release area to attempt an unplanned rescue? No; report the emergency, evacuate using the site's emergency procedures and contact trained responders.
Sources
- Final report findings: Foundation Food Group liquid nitrogen release — U.S. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. Accessed 2026-09-25. csb.gov
- 1910.38 — Emergency action plans — Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Accessed 2026-09-25. osha.gov
- Hazard Prevention and Control — Occupational Safety and Health Administration. Accessed 2026-09-25. osha.gov