Cameraman's Death at Racecourse Results in Fines for Production Studio
OSHA has proposed $91,000 in fines against the company for one alleged willful, two alleged serious, and one other-than-serious violation.
OSHA has cited Lucas Oil Production Studios of Corona, Calif., following the death of a cameraman at the Thunder Valley Motocross racecourse outside of Lakewood, Colo., on June 25.
OSHA's investigation found that the cameraman fell from an elevated all-terrain scissor lift from which guardrails had been removed. The company also exposed other cameramen and technicians to fall hazards by removing guardrails from several other scissor lifts.
"Lucas Oil Production Studios failed to provide its employees with a safe and healthful workplace," said Greg Baxter, OSHA's regional administrator in Denver. "The company demonstrated indifference to the requirements of the Occupational Safety and Health Act, which resulted in fatal injuries to its employee."
OSHA has proposed $91,000 in fines against the company for one alleged willful, two alleged serious, and one other-than-serious violation. The willful citation addressed the deliberate removal of the guardrails from the scissor lifts exposing employees to fall hazards up to 27 feet. A willful violation is one committed with intentional knowing or voluntary disregard for the law's requirements, or with plain indifference to worker safety and health.
The serious citations addressed the employer's failure to provide any training to employees on the proper operating procedures of all-terrain scissor lifts, and exposing employees to crushing and amputation hazards by not having established a lockout program for performing modifications on the lifts. A serious citation is issued when there is substantial probability that death or serious physical harm could result from a hazard about which the employer knew or should have known.
An other-than-serious citation was issued alleging the company failed to report the incident. An other-than-serious violation is one that has a direct relationship to job safety and health, but probably would not cause death or serious physical harm.