View this article online: https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/southeast/2017/08/18/461709.htm
A deadly February 2017 industrial gas leak at a sperm bank in Augusta, Ga. was caused by the over-pressurization of a bulk storage tank, according to findings from an investigation by state inspectors released Thursday by Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner Ralph Hudgens.
As a result of the investigation by the Georgia Office of Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner, Hudgens has issued civil penalties against the sperm bank’s gas supplier Airgas USA totaling $302,500.
The investigation revealed that on Dec. 13, 2016, Airgas USA installed a 3,000-gallon bulk storage tank at Xytex Cryo International for the storing and dispensing of liquid nitrogen. On Dec. 22, a Xytex employee attempted to cool cryogenic freezers with the liquid nitrogen but terminated the action when relief devices began discharging the nitrogen inside the freezer room, according to a report from the commissioner’s office.
On Jan. 24, an Airgas USA service manager determined that the tank would require recalibration from 30 psi to approximately 20 psi, below the setting of Xytex’s cryogenic cooling system. The service manager indicated to Xytex employees that the tank’s servicing instruction decal which displayed 30 psi would be updated to reflect the new pressure fill setting.
On Sunday, Feb. 5, 2017, a tanker truck from Airgas USA arrived at the Xytex facility delivering liquid nitrogen. The driver connected the discharge hose from the truck to the storage tank and began to fill as instructed by the tank’s servicing decal. The system became over-pressurized and started leaking liquid nitrogen gas inside the building.
State inspectors determined that Airgas USA had failed to update the decal to the new pressure fill setting.
“This industrial gas leak may have been avoided if the proper servicing decal had been affixed to the bulk storage tank,” Hudgens said. “Either an employee not following through with the proper procedures or a lack of communication between the two companies led to this tragic event.”
Xytex employee Anita Wylds and Richmond County Sheriff’s Deputy Sergeant Greg Meagher both responded to an alarm at the facility located at 1100 Emmett Street. Shortly after entering the building
Wylds fell unconscious and was severely injured from exposure to hypothermia hazards. Sergeant Meagher entered the building in search of Wylds but also collapsed moments later. He later died from environmental suffocation.
As a result of the incident at Xytex Cryo International, Hudgens ordered Airgas USA to pay the maximum penalty allowed by Georgia law of $5,000 for failure to report the incident to his office promptly. State inspectors learned of the incident the following day from news reports.
Additionally, Hudgens is ordering Airgas USA to pay civil penalties totaling $297,500 for violation of Georgia’s Boiler and Pressure Vessel Safety Act. State inspectors discovered that in many instances, and over a period of several years, Airgas USA had failed to comply with state law requirements for inspection and reinspection of its bulk storage tanks.
The civil penalties are for the following violations:
Source: Georgia Office of Insurance and Fire Safety Commissioner