EXCLUSIVE: Nitrogen leak caught on camera at local pharmaceutical company is quickly repaired; internal investigation underway
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- Today an internal investigation is underway at a Bend pharmaceutical company, after a nitrogen leak was caught on camera by a NewsChannel 21 viewer. The leak was quickly repaired and the company is considering changes to some of its standard operation procedure.
Representatives say the amount leaked was not enough to cause a hazard and was repaired in less than 3-minutes.
Just before 2PM today a NewsChannel 21 viewer caught on camera a nitrogen gas leak on NE Lower Meadow Drive in Bend. The video shows the odorless gas of nitrogen pouring out of a tank, before being quickly repaired in less than 3 minutes.
When NewsChannel 21 arrived at the scene, the company said they were filling a small container with liquid nitrogen from the tank, and because of the rain the valve froze open. An employee had to then run back inside to get a wrench to seal the valve.
The company will conduct an internal investigation and is considering keeping a wrench closer to the valve, and no longer filling nitrogen tanks while its raining.
Nitrogen is a chemical element that makes up much of the air in Earth's atmosphere.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, liquid nitrogen is non-toxic but can cause severe damage to skin and internal organs if mishandled or ingested because of the extremely low temperatures it maintains.
