Film Company Fined for Worker’s Health and Safety Injury
A cameraman at a production studio fell three metres while working on a major film. The individual was 62 years of age at the time of the incident. Unfortunately, the individual fell through an opening in the floor causing him to suffer from bruising and possibly broken ribs. The opening was designed for access to a raised area. It was not guarded properly as dangerous, thus it was in breach of health and safety laws.
The film company has been fined for the 2010 incident now that the health and safety audits along with the court case have been heard. The set was designed for an authentic appearance for the 18th century Japan setting. Temporary protection was placed in many areas, but the area where the individual fell was not protected, temporarily or otherwise. Guardrails were installed after the incident occurred to prevent any further issues.
The company must pay £300 as a fine and £10,500 for other costs. They also had to pay £300 to the injured person as compensation for breaching the safety and health regulations section 6(3) of the 2005 amendment. Several people were exposed to the same risk as they had been on the same platform without proper lighting and guardrails. It is one of the reasons the case was ruled a breach of laws. Other measures that could certainly have been used if guardrails were going to be an issue for the cameraman, but a failure of any measures constituted a breach.
