Alec Baldwin Shocker: 'Rust' Team in Trouble Due to Proven Gun Safety Failures
The production company behind Alec Baldwin's "Rust" film formally faced troubles after workplace safety regulators found its gun safety failures on the set.
Multiple news outlets, including Deadline and BBC, that the Rust Movie Productions, LLC has been smacked with a $136,793 fine. The New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau released a new report, saying that the company committed a willful and serious violation of workplace procedures, specifically gun safety.
It revealed that the production company knew all along that the firearm safety procedures were not being observed on the film's set. With that, it showed "plain indifference to employee" safety as it did not review its supposed practices while filming and failed to take corrective action.
Environmental Cabinet Secretary James Kenney addressed the development in a new video statement, saying: "There were serious management failures and more than sufficient evidence to suggest that if standard industry practices were followed, the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutching and the serious injury to Joel Souza would not have occurred. ... This is a complete failure of the employer to follow recognized national protocols that keep employees safe."
OHSB then issued the highest level of citation and maximum fine under the state law in New Mexico. The bureau conducted the probe pursuant to 50-9-17 NMSA, giving it six months to issue a citation to highlight any violation of the Occupational Health and Safety rules.
As of press time, the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office and Santa Fe County District Attorney are still engaged in independent investigations into the "Rust" shooting incident.
"Rust" Team Responds to Recent Findings
Following the release of the document, the spokesperson for Rust Movie Productions, KKC, Stefan Friedman, shared their thoughts in a statement to Reuters.
The team reportedly acknowledged the bureau's time and effort in the probe. However, there are reportedly disagreeable parts in the citation. Thus, they plan to appeal to dismiss the findings.
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Meanwhile, Gloria Allred - "Rust" script supervisor Mamie Mitchell's attorney - said in an email to PEOPLE that everyone should be held accountable for the tragedy, including Alec Baldwin as its producer.
"The report by OSHA is a stinging indictment which goes way beyond mere negligence. In issuing its penalty it finds that the violations were willful," Allred added. "There are no stronger words which New Mexico OSHA could have used to describe the production company's failures."
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