A janitor cleaning in a laboratory in Troy, New York, caused at least $1 million in damage to scientific research after shutting off a storage freezer while trying to turn off an annoying beeping noise.
A lawsuit has been filed against Daigle Cleaning Services, who employed the janitor that shut off a circuit breaker on Sept. 17, 2020, to stop the beeping.
The breaker controlled a freezer storing cell cultures, samples, and other research elements at minus-112 degrees Fahrenheit.
The temperature reportedly rose to minus-25.6 degrees Fahrenheit after the freezer was turned off – damaging or destroying more than 20 years of research, the lawsuit alleges.
A sign on the door to the lab’s freezer allegedly explained the source of the alarm and included instructions on how to silence it if necessary.
The janitor did not see the sign, which read: “This freezer is beeping as it is under repair.
“Please do not move or unplug it. No cleaning is required in this area.
You can press the alarm/test mute button for 5-10 seconds if you would like to mute the sound.”
