Airgas fined for fatal nitrogen leak at US sperm bank
$300,000 penalty for leak caused by over-pressurisation after Airgas failed to update tank safety label
The deadly nitrogen leak at a Xytex cryopreservation unit in Georgia, which killed a local deputy sheriff and hospitalised several others in February has now led to fines of over $300,000 (£232,860) in civil penalties against the gas supplier Airgas. Georgia insurance and safety fire commissioner Ralph Hudgens released findings on 16 August indicating that the incident was caused by over-pressurisation of a bulk nitrogen storage tank, installed and owned by Airgas.