As we have discussed before, Nitrogen (N2) Gas is NOT a toxic gas. It is an INERT gas. It has NO exposure limits, and in fact, 78% of every breath we take is N2. However, too much N2 will displace the Oxygen (O2) in the atmosphere, potentially creating a lethal atmosphere.
In March of 2016, a contractor, 32, was inspecting fire extinguishers at a steel plant. When he went into a pressurized elevator-control room, a pulse-cleaning system malfunctioned, the room filled with nitrogen, and the worker suffocated. His widow was awarded death benefits, which are two-thirds of the deceased worker’s average weekly pay, but capped at about $800 a week. She wanted more, arguing that her husband was killed by safety violations at the plant.