Refrigerant leak linked to fatalities

UK: The Health and Safety Executive is investigating the deaths of two men following a suspected refrigerant leak at a Norfolk poultry factory.

Two subcontractors from a pest control company working at Banham Poultry in Attleborough were found dead at around 01.10 this morning. The two men were reported to be aged in their 30s and 40s. No one else was injured.

In a statement, Norfolk police said that, along with Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and the Health and Safety Executive, it was continuing to assess the scene in order to understand the circumstances which lead to the mens’ deaths.

“Having carried out initial assessments investigating teams on site are exploring what they believe to have been a refrigeration gas leak near to where the men were working as a line of enquiry,” the police said.

There has been no confirmation that a refrigerant leak was to blame, but it is thought that the factory employs an ammonia/glycol refrigeration system.