Nitrogen explosion injures 10 at US food processing plant
03 August 2021
An explosion injured 10 people in Kentucky, US on July 21. The incident happened whilst liquid nitrogen was being unloaded from a truck at a facility owned by US ice cream snack manufacturer Dippin’ Dots.
Representative image: Shutterstock
The incident is the second safety incident to have happened at the Dippin’ Dots facility in Paducah, Kentucky in the last two years. A total of 10 people were injured by the blast and were transported to two local hospitals for treatment.
A company statement said that the explosion did not occur at the Dippin’ Dots headquarters or its ice cream production facility, but at a plant where ingredients are made for a third-party company. A total of 11 people were at the facility at the time of the blast with nine of the 10 injured being released after a few hours in hospital.
According to local news reports, liquid nitrogen was being unloaded from a truck at the facility when the explosion occurred. No further details have been provided and an investigation has begun, local officials said.
A similar incident at the same facility occurred in 2019 when four employees were injured after a nitrogen leak occurred.