A janitor’s mistake ruined decades of research at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) after he turned off a freezer that was storing cell cultures and other research materials. The university is now suing the cleaning company for $1 million in damages.

The janitor, who was working for Daigle Cleaning Systems Inc., was assigned to clean a lab at RPI. The lab contained a freezer that was set to maintain a temperature of -80 degrees Celsius. Any fluctuation of more than 3 degrees could cause the research materials to be damaged.

The janitor reportedly turned off the freezer after hearing an “annoying alarm,” thinking it was a nuisance. However, he did not realize that the alarm was actually warning him that the freezer’s temperature had risen to -78 degrees Celsius. By the time the janitor realized his mistake, the research materials had been irreparably damaged.

The research team had been working on a promising new treatment for cancer, and the loss of the research materials could set back the development of the treatment by several years. The university is seeking $1 million in damages to cover the cost of replacing the research materials and the lost research time.

The cleaning company has denied any wrongdoing and has said that it is cooperating with the university’s investigation.

Additional details:

  • The janitor was working for Daigle Cleaning Systems Inc., a company that specializes in cleaning commercial and industrial properties.
  • The lab’s freezer contained more than 20 years of research, including cell cultures and samples that were used to study a variety of diseases.
  • The research team had been working on a promising new treatment for cancer, and the loss of the research materials could set back the development of the treatment by several years.
  • The university is seeking $1 million in damages to cover the cost of replacing the research materials and the lost research time.
  • The cleaning company has denied any wrongdoing and has said that it is cooperating with the university’s investigation.
  • The janitor has not been charged with any crime, but he may face disciplinary action from his employer.
  • The incident has raised concerns about the safety of research materials and the importance of proper training for janitors and other staff who work in research labs.