Prime Pak Foods Had History Of OSHA Violations, Records Show

GAINESVILLE, GA — The Prime Pak Foods chicken processing plant where a liquid nitrogen leak led to six deaths on Thursday has been investigated and fined multiple times by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for health and safety violations, records show.

At least two incidents since 2017 have resulted in an employee losing fingers to plant machinery.

An employee who was guiding meat product from a mixer into a vat lost three fingers when his right hand was caught in a mixer mechanism, an OSHA incident report shows. The employee was hospitalized, and Prime Pak Foods was fined $25,097, according to the report.

A few months later, in July of the same year, an employee removed a guard from a chicken slicing machine to clear a jam when his hand was pulled into the machine. An incident report indicates the employee suffered a partial amputation to the ring and pinky fingers of his left hand, and the facility was made to pay a $12,548 fine.

Related: Liquid Nitrogen Leak Causes Deaths At Gainesville Food Plant

In June 2019, OSHA investigated a "serious" incident involving a forklift, records show. The facility was initially fined $6,251 but ultimately paid only $3,751, according to a record of the incident. A description of the incident was not available.

Another, much earlier, OSHA report from September 2015 describes an incident involving a forklift and amputation. No description of the incident was available, but a report shows Prime Pak was fined for several violations. Originally issued a $84,060 penalty, Prime Pak ultimately paid out $42,600.

Records indicate the facility was investigated twice in 2020, first in May for an incident involving an amputation. The case was closed without a penalty being levied against the company, records show.

Another investigation from December 2020 is ongoing. OSHA did not immediately respond to a request for more information about the investigation.

The Hall County Sheriff's office on Friday released the names of the five men and one woman who died on Thursday. The victims are:

• Jose DeJesus Elias-Cabrera, 45, of Gainesville
• Corey Alan Murphy, 35, of Clermont
• Nelly Perez-Rafael, 28, of Gainesville (female)
• Saulo Suarez-Bernal, 41, of Dawsonville
• Victor Vellez , 38, of Gainesville
• Edgar Vera-Garcia, 28, of Gainesville

Authorities said the victims' remains have been taken to the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Crime Lab to undergo autopsies. All six victims were Prime Pak employees.

A total of 12 people were hospitalized on Thursday as a result of the leak, county officials said in a news conference. Another 130 people were taken by bus to Free Chapel Church for medical evaluation.

A Northeast Georgia Health System spokesperson told Patch seven of the 12 people who were hospitalized had been released to recover at home. As of Friday, only four people remained hospitalized, three of whom were in critical condition.

In a statement, Georgia Gov. Brian P. Kemp addressed the incident and offered his prayers for the families of the victims.

"Our hearts are broken hearing about the tragedy that took place at Prime Pak Foods in Gainesville this morning," Kemp said, in part. "Marty, the girls, and I ask all Georgians to join us in praying for the families facing a terrible loss and the other employees who are receiving medical care. May God be a hand of peace, comfort, and healing in the days ahead."

OSHA and the Georgia Fire Marshal's Office are investigating what caused the liquid nitrogen leak.

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