Several causes of the freezer failure according to internal report

"Those of us who have participated in the investigation have done everything we can to find out what happened. The challenge has been that documentation has not been available in all parts, or that existing documentation has not been registered," says Magnus Håkansson, KI’s head of security.

Technology: Closed valve after filling 

The technical part of the investigation shows that the supply of liquid nitrogen to the cryo tanks was stopped when a valve on the bulk tank was closed on the morning of 22 December in connection with a service work carried out by an external technician. 

When the service work was completed, the technician announced that the alarm would be reset, but this did not happen and the valve therefore remained closed, with the result that the supply of nitrogen was stopped. 

The investigation shows that SMS and emails with information about alarms were sent out to the phone numbers and email addresses registered for this. However, there is no documentation that can confirm that SMS has actually been delivered to the recipients. 

Members of the Neo service team have confirmed that they have received SMS about alarms. However, as service work was underway, no action was taken.

The investigation rules out the possibility that the accident was an act of sabotage. 

Organisation: Unclear responsibilities

The investigation's examination of the organisational causes shows that some parts of the accident can be traced back almost nine years. At that time, the design of the Neo building began with a KI-internal project manager. 

The investigators point out that there is a process for documentation and registration of construction projects at KI's property department. But for the Neo project, for unknown reasons, that routine has been departed from. 

Nor are there any notes from the meetings that were held during the design period with the relevant heads of department and operations, when functional requirements and needs regarding the premises were discussed. 

The investigators conclude that there is a lack of important documentation in connection with the property department's handover of the Neo building to the operations in 2018. Among other things, about risks related to nitrogen routines and in the event of non-delivery of nitrogen. 

Questions about day-to-day management

The report raises a number of questions about the day-to-day management of the freezer hotel at Neo. The term "hotel" implies that each research group has had its own responsibility for both the installation of cryo-freezers and the administration of alarm points. 

"In retrospect, it is clear that the forms of operation and management of the freezer hotel were based on trust between the parties and that probably too much responsibility has been placed on the research groups. Something that in the other facilities has been more on the larger service teams," says Matti Sällberg, dean of KI South. "Unfortunately, over time, this has resulted in a lack of clarity where one hand does not know or has asked about what the other is doing. It is undoubtedly extremely unfortunate, even though the intentions of everyone involved have always been the very best."

The sample collections that have been destroyed are estimated to consist of 34,400 biobank samples, 3,800 samples from animal models, 2,600 samples from cell lines and 6,300 samples with manipulated/edited cell lines. 

Measures: Need for designated system owners

The investigation team concludes that the accident did not occur due to a single event or source of error, but a combination of several. 

The report presents a number of recommended measures, primarily about creating a robust freezing infrastructure at KI with a clear division of responsibilities to avoid serious consequences of individual wrongdoing. 

For example, it must be clear who is responsible for ensuring that staff handling the freezers receive adequate training, and who is responsible for regular maintenance, risk analysis and continuity planning. 

The report also recommends a more central and common way of working for robust operations. Among other things, there should be a special round-the-clock on-call service for freezer hotels and other business-critical parts. 

External review next step

Once the internal investigation has been completed, the external expert group will take over. It is led by Anna Beskow, head of Uppsala Biobank at Uppsala University, who will conduct an independent review.

The assignment includes further deepening the analysis of how KI secures robust structures for mission-critical systems. The investigators also have the opportunity to conduct supplementary interviews and investigations, if necessary. 

KI's investigation will also be reviewed by the supervisory authority IVO, the police and the Legal, Financial and Administrative Services Agency (Kammarkollegiet).

"We can initiate certain measures in parallel with the external review of the freezing disaster, which it will not be until we in the management have studied the inquiry's report and analysed what measures will be required. What has happened is serious for KI and especially for the researchers affected. Therefore, the goal must be to ensure that similar incidents cannot happen again – neither in Neo nor anywhere at KI," says Annika Östman Wernerson.

When it comes to compensation and insurance issues, an inventory is underway of the costs associated with the freezer breakdown.

"It's something we need to look at first. So that issue is being reviewed and we will get back to you on it when the inventory is complete," says KI’s president.