Film company fined after cameraman hurt on set

Date:

29 February 2012

Release No:

COI/2912

A production company has been fined after a cameraman fell more than three metres from the set of a forthcoming major film.

The 62-year-old was working on the set of 47 Ronin at Shepperton Studios, Middlesex, when he fell through an opening in the floor. The opening was for access to a raised area via stairs, but had not been guarded to prevent people falling through it.

The cameraman, who suffered bruising and suspected broken ribs, was employed by Warrior Productions Limited, which was responsible for the production of the film in the United Kingdom and was in control of the set.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into the incident on 10 May 2010 found that because the film is set in 18th Century Japan the set had been built without edge protection to make it look authentic. Temporary protection had been added in some areas but not where the cameraman fell. Guardrails were added immediately after the incident.

Warrior Productions Limited, of Prospect House, New Oxford Street, London, was fined £300, ordered to pay costs of £10,500 and ordered to pay the injured person £300 compensation for breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

After the hearing HSE inspector Stephen Green said:

"At the time of the incident it was dark and there was no lighting on the platform. Numerous people had been or were still on the platform, and therefore were all exposed to the risk. The cameraman was lucky to escape with bruising and suspected cracked ribs as falls from a similar height can cause serious or even fatal injuries.

"The company was aware there were unguarded edges on the set. Some areas had temporary protection added, but there was no full assessment of the whole set. The guardrails fitted after the incident would have prevented the fall and were quick and easy to install.

"Alternatively other measures could have been put in place if the guardrails were visible on camera during filming."

Notes to editors

1. The Health and Safety Executive is Britain's national regulator for workplace health and safety. It aims to reduce work-related death, injury and ill health. It does so through research, information and advice; promoting training; new or revised regulations and codes of practice; and working with local authority partners by inspection, investigation and enforcement. www.hse.gov.uk
2. Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 states: "Where work is carried out at height, every employer shall take suitable and sufficient measures to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, any person falling a distance liable to cause personal injury."

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Issued on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive by COI News & PR South East