Janitor's Attempt to Silence Beeping Noise Results in Destruction of Decades of Scientific Research

A janitor turned off the breaker to a freezer containing valuable cell cultures and research samples, causing $1 million in damages and destroying 25 years of research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. The beeping noise was caused by the freezer being slightly above the temperatures it should have been set to, and a technician was unable to come to repair it due to COVID-19 restrictions. The janitor thought he had turned the breaker on instead of off and had no ill intent. A lawsuit has been filed against the janitor's employer for negligence.