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Six workers were killed and at least 50 other workers were injured in an explosion and fire at the chewing-gum manufacturing plant where they were employed. A small explosion believed to be caused by the liquid nitrogen's liquefaction of oxygen set off another explosion of dust surrounding the machinery that was composed primarily of magnesium stearate. In 1975, prior to the explosion, the company's insurance inspector noticed a lot of magnesium stearate dust in the factory and required the company install an effective exhaust system and better insulate electrical connections to prevent an explosion. Although the company made some minor changes, it did not stop production or make safety improvements. Federal OSHA had inspected the facility several months before the incident but only conducted a record review, which found that records were not properly maintained. OSHA did not inspect the plant.
District Attorney John J. Santucci
Fire/ Explosion
Queens
New York
November 21, 1976
Unavailable
| First | Last | Age | Title | Employer | Injury Type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Miriam | Munoz | 36 | Unavailable | Warner Lambert | Fatality |
| Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Warner Lambert | Fatality |
| Samuel | Agyekum | 34 | Unavailable | Warner Lambert | Fatality |
| Ruben | Gonzalez | 34 | Unavailable | Warner Lambert | Fatality |
| Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Warner Lambert | Fatality |
| Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Warner Lambert | Fatality |
| Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Unavailable | Warner Lambert | Injury |
| Name | Type | Title | Plea Information | Conviction Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arthur Kraft | Individual | Vice President of Manufacturing, American Chicle Division | Unavailable | Charges dismissed by State Supreme Court in Queens on ground of insufficient evidence. Reinstated by appellate division. The NY Court of Appeals then reversed and dismissed the case, holding that the defendants could not be criminally liable because the triggering mechanism of the explosion was not identified, and there was no evidence that this was foreseeable or known to the defendants. |
|
Penal Crimes Charged
Second Degree Manslaughter (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.15); Criminally Negligent Homicide (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.10) |
Other Crimes Charged
Unavailable |
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| Edward Harris | Individual | Director of Corporate Safety and Security, Warner Lambert | Unavailable | Charges dismissed by State Supreme Court in Queens on ground of insufficient evidence. Reinstated by appellate division. The NY Court of Appeals then reversed and dismissed the case, holding that the defendants could not be criminally liable because the triggering mechanism of the explosion was not identified, and there was no evidence that this was foreseeable or known to the defendants. |
|
Penal Crimes Charged
Second Degree Manslaughter (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.15); Criminally Negligent Homicide (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.10) |
Other Crimes Charged
Unavailable |
|||
| James O'Mahoney | Individual | Plant Manager, American Chicle Plant | Unavailable | Charges dismissed by State Supreme Court in Queens on ground of insufficient evidence. Reinstated by appellate division. The NY Court of Appeals then reversed and dismissed the case, holding that the defendants could not be criminally liable because the triggering mechanism of the explosion was not identified, and there was no evidence that this was foreseeable or known to the defendants. |
|
Penal Crimes Charged
Second Degree Manslaughter (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.15); Criminally Negligent Homicide (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.10) |
Other Crimes Charged
Unavailable |
|||
| John O'Rourke | Individual | Plant Engineer, American Chicle Plant | Unavailable | Charges dismissed by trial court. Reinstated by appellate division. The NY Court of Appeals dismissed the case, holding that the defendants could not be criminally liable because the triggering mechanism of the explosion was not identified, and there was no evidence that this was foreseeable or known to the defendants. |
|
Penal Crimes Charged
Second Degree Manslaughter (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.15); Criminally Negligent Homicide (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.10) |
Other Crimes Charged
Unavailable |
|||
| John O'Rourke | Individual | Plant Engineer, American Chicle Plant | Unavailable | Charges dismissed by trial court. Reinstated by appellate division. The NY Court of Appeals dismissed the case, holding that the defendants could not be criminally liable because the triggering mechanism of the explosion was not identified, and there was no evidence that this was foreseeable or known to the defendants. |
|
Penal Crimes Charged
Second Degree Manslaughter (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.15); Criminally Negligent Homicide (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.10) |
Other Crimes Charged
Unavailable |
|||
| John O'Rourke | Individual | Plant Engineer, American Chicle Plant | Unavailable | Charges dismissed by trial court. Reinstated by appellate division. The NY Court of Appeals dismissed the case, holding that the defendants could not be criminally liable because the triggering mechanism of the explosion was not identified, and there was no evidence that this was foreseeable or known to the defendants. |
|
Penal Crimes Charged
Second Degree Manslaughter (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.15); Criminally Negligent Homicide (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.10) |
Other Crimes Charged
Unavailable |
|||
| Warner Lambert Co. | Entity | Entity | Unavailable | Charges dismissed by State Supreme Court in Queens on ground of insufficient evidence. Reinstated by appellate division. The NY Court of Appeals then reversed and dismissed the case, holding that the defendants could not be criminally liable because the triggering mechanism of the explosion was not identified, and there was no evidence that this was foreseeable or known to the defendants. |
|
Penal Crimes Charged
Second Degree Manslaughter (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.15); Criminally Negligent Homicide (6 counts) (N.Y. Penal Law Sec. 125.10) |
Other Crimes Charged
Unavailable |
|||