The Silver Plant Death

A worker at a plant that recovered silver from used X-ray film collapsed and died. The cause was cyanide poisoning from fumes in the plant air. The film was soaked in large open vats of water and sodium cyanide. Ventilation was poor. Workers were not told they were handling cyanide. Three managers were charged with murder, and the two companies with involuntary manslaughter, over the same death. The managers say a judge cannot call the same death a knowing killing by them but only a reckless one by the companies.