While Los Angeles is considered the home of the American entertainment industry, many U.S. television shows and movies are filmed in other states and even outside the country. The state of Georgia is home to many of those productions.
A production company headquartered in Southern California is facing citations and fines from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) after two people were injured in Georgia on the set of the film Bad Boys for Life, starring Will Smith and Martin Lawrence. The movie is yet another sequel to the pair’s 1995 hit Bad Boys.
The federal agency filed the citation against Culver City-based Garden Films Productions LLC earlier this month. It stems from an incident in February.
According to an OSHA press release, “One employee suffered injuries that required hospitalization and another suffered minor injuries during filming of a simulated motorcycle explosion.” OSHA has recommended penalties of almost $9,500 against the company, which was cited for “failing to protect employees from hazards while filming a movie.”
While one person reportedly suffered only minor injuries, the other one had to be hospitalized with a foot injury suffered because he was performing the stunt “without wearing boots or other protective gear” according to the citation.
The production company has the option to comply with the citation and penalties, contest them or ask for an informal conference with the OSHA area director.
While OSHA citations and penalties are critical to helping incentivize employers to maintain safe workplaces and practices, they don’t provide compensation to injured employees dealing with medical bills, lost income and, in some cases, the end of a career. That’s why it’s essential for injured workers and their families to explore all options available for compensation after a workplace accident.