We often think of the moviemaking industry as glamorous and fun. And it is, to a degree. But behind every film we see on the silver screen, there are hundreds of workers, many of whom put themselves in the line of fire (both literally and figuratively) to bring these blockbusters to life. Of course, most movie sets are closely monitored and kept as safe as possible, but that doesn’t mean that accidents don’t happen.
In fact, it happens a lot more than we hear. The Associated Press uncovered that over 150 people have suffered life-altering injuries and 43 have lost their lives on a movie set since 1990. Shockingly, AP found that many of those major accidents never showed up in the database kept by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Perhaps the most publicized incident was that of actor Brandon Lee, who was shot on set because of a “clerical accident,” but there are many other examples. In November, two stunt people drowned during a scene, and during the filming of the recent Blade Runner update, a worker lost their life.
OSHA did take action against Paramount Pictures for an incident on the set of GI Joe: Retaliation, but several years later, the studio is still fighting the fines.
Here’s the bottom line: workers have the right to be protected from potential hazards, whether it’s on a Los Angeles movie set, a factory in Bakersfield or an office here in Van Nuys. If you’ve been injured at work and need workers compensation for your recovery, you may want to consider speaking with an attorney.
