Carbon Monoxide and Nitrogen Fog Send Seven to the Hospital at a New Albany Food Plant

A fault between a bulk liquid nitrogen tank and a tunnel freezer released gas on October 13 at the New Albany facility of Fearless Innovative Food Company (previously known as Kemper Foods), located at 525 Park East Boulevard. About 30 employees were on-site when roughly 15 firefighters responded, and at least seven workers were hospitalized. New Albany Fire Battalion Chief Ron Brown said crews found elevated carbon monoxide along with nitrogen fog and a brown residue on the floor.

Pure liquid nitrogen is colorless, odorless, and leaves no residue when it boils off, so the combination of carbon monoxide and brown floor residue points toward a combustion event or a mechanical failure rather than straightforward asphyxiation. That distinction could push any OSHA finding toward a lockout/tagout citation under 1910.147 or a process safety management citation under 1910.119, rather than a lower-tier citation for a gas release. OSHA still has no national standard written specifically for cryogenic asphyxiant hazards, despite the Chemical Safety Board recommending one in December 2023 after the 2021 Foundation Food Group deaths in Georgia. The USDA-inspected plant, backed by Burlington Capital, was expected to reopen as soon as October 14.