While many people associate work injuries with construction sites or manufacturing plants, the reality is that employees can be hurt at any job. Even production sets for TV and movies can be dangerous for workers. Data shows that the number of major on-set accidents reported to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration have increased in the last few years. Additionally, many believe that incidents aren’t always being reported, so the problem may be worse than it seems.
The severity of the problem became apparent when a camera assistant died on the set of the independent film “Midnight Rider.” According to reports, the assistant was killed and eight other workers were hurt while they were filming on a railroad trestle. The director-producer had no permit to film there, and he apparently had also not informed the owner of the property that the production crew was going to be there.
While there was essentially no way to avoid this incident getting reported, many in the industry are concerned that other, non-fatal, accidents aren’t being divulged to OSHA. It is believed that studios and people involved in filming don’t want to risk fines or penalties.
Injured workers have the ability to file for workers’ compensation if they get hurt due to their job. Not only does this insurance cover direct injury, such as a cut, burn or fall, but it may also cover issues from repetitive stress injuries or other medical conditions. Workers’ compensation benefits can include reimbursement for lost wages and medical expenses. If someone is interested in filing a claim for workers’ compensation or having a denied claim reviewed, a lawyer could describe the process and help them throughout it.
