(Reuters) – New Mexico on Wednesday fined Rust Movie Productions LLC the highest amount possible and blasted the company for “intentional” security breaches that led to the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins last year during the filming of Western “Rust”.
An investigation by the State Department of Occupational Safety and Health, which fined the company $ 137,000, found that the production company knew that firearms safety procedures were not being followed and showed “pure indifference” to the dangers, the New Mexico Department of the Environment said in a statement.
“This tragic incident would never have happened if Rust Movie Productions LLC had complied with national film industry standards for firearms safety,”
; Environment Minister James Kenney said in a press release.Hutchins was killed in October when a revolver that actor and producer Alec Baldwin rehearsed during filming in New Mexico fired a live round that hit her and film director Joel Souza. Mr Souza was injured but survived.
“While we appreciate OSHA’s time and effort in its investigation, we do not agree with its findings and plan to appeal,” Rust Movie Productions spokesman Stefan Friedman said in a statement on Wednesday.
The New Mexico Occupational Safety and Health Administration administers the federal program for occupational safety and health.
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