Inspection Detail

Inspection: 1200096 - Us Department Of Agriculture

Inspection Information - Office: Atlanta East Area Office

Investigation Summary

AT APPROXIMATELY 9 AM ON OCTOBER 19, 1984, 15 EMPLOYEES OF CAGLE'S, INC. BECAME ILL AT WORK. THEY EXHIBITED SYMPTOMS OF DIZZINESS, WEAKNESS, SWEATING, AND LOSS OF CONSCIOUSNESS. THEY WERE SEEN BY VARIOUS CLINICS, PRIVATE PHYSICIANS AND HOSPITALS AND TREATED FOR CARBON DIOXIDE EXPOSURE. THE COMPANY, WHICH SLAUGHTERS AND DEBONES CHICKENS, USES A CARBON DIOXIDE COOLING SYSTEM IN THE MEAT PACKING DEPARTMENT. THE CHICKEN MEAT IS QUICK-COOLED AS IT FLOWS BY, ON A CONVEYOR, ON ITS WAY TO LARGE VATS. CARBON DIOXIDE "HORNS" PERIODICALLY FORCE DRY ICE FLAKES INTO THE CONTAINERS OF MEAT. AN INADEQUATE VENTILATION SYSTEM ALLOWED THE CARBON DIOXIDE TO FLOW OVER THE VAT SIDES AND ACCUMULATE IN THE CHICKEN DE-BONING AREA, WHERE THE 15 AFFECTED EMPLOYEES WORKED. THE COMPANY HAS SINCE MADE SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES TO THE VENTILATION SYSTEM, LOWERING THE CARBON DIOXIDE LEVELS TO LESS THAN 5,000 PPM, ON AVERAGE.

Keywords: OXYGEN DEFICIENCY, RESPIRATORY, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, INHALATION, DIZZINESS, VENTILATION, CARBON DIOXIDE