A report of Alec Baldwin’s fatal shooting of Halina Hutchins on the Rust set found that management “knows that firearms safety procedures are not being followed.”
New Mexico’s safety regulators fined the film company a maximum of $ 139,793 (£ 107,019) after “imminent loss of life”.
They said this “demonstrates a clear indifference to employee safety by not reviewing work practices and taking corrective action”.
Cameraman Hutchins died after a Baldwin-held gun fired live during rehearsals in October 2021.
The actor was one of the producers of the western, as well as his star.
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0:33 Reconstruction of Rust shooting
“Our investigation found that this tragic incident would never have happened if Rust Movie Productions, LLC had followed the national standards of the film industry for firearms safety,” said State Environmental Officer James Kenny.
“This is a complete failure for the employer to comply with recognized national protocols that keep employees safe.”
The report included evidence that managers had taken limited or no action on two previous set failures.
He also documented safety concerns that went unnoticed, and said weapons specialists were not allowed to make decisions about further training.
The company’s documents indicate that it will follow the instructions, but failed to do so, adds the report of the Bureau of Health and Safety (OHSB).
These guidelines include:
Do not bring live ammunition into any studio or batch; conducting daily meetings on the safety of the use of weapons; and that personnel “refrain from aiming firearms at anyone” except in consultation with the gunsmith or other security representative.
Rust Movie Productions said they disagreed with the findings and planned to appeal.
“Our thoughts and prayers remain with Halina’s family,” it said.
Image: Rust lighting chief Serge Svetnoy, pictured with Hutchins, is among those on trial
Lawyers said the gun fired after Baldwin aimed it at Ms. Hutchins during a stage setup. The film’s director Joel Souza was also injured.
Baldwin said he aimed the gun at her direction and fired without pulling the trigger.
The report says Assistant Director David Halls, who served as safety coordinator, handed the revolver over to Baldwin without consulting gun specialists during or after the charge.
Baldwin is currently facing several lawsuits, including from scriptwriter Mamie Mitchell and lighting director Serge Svetnoy, as well as Ms. Hutchins’ family.
A separate investigation into possible criminal charges continues.
In a December interview, Baldwin said that while he “will do everything he can to undo what happened,” he is not to blame for the fatal shooting – saying that even though “someone is responsible for what happened … I know not it’s me “.
He said Ms. Hutchins was “someone who is loved by everyone and admired by everyone who works with her.”
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December 1, 2021: “Hutchins’ death will never be behind us”
The incident also led to calls from politicians to increase state-funded firearms training.
The OHSB in New Mexico said its investigation covered 1,560 hours of staff time, 14 interviews and a review of 566 documents.
Hutchins, 42, grew up at a military base in the Russian Arctic, where her father served in the Navy before moving to Los Angeles to study cinema.
She was considered a rising star in her field.
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