Rust Movie Productions LLC was fined $137,000 by the state of New Mexico on Wednesday for “willful” safety violations that resulted in the death shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins last year while filming the Western “Rust.”
According to the New Mexico Environment Department, an inquiry by the state’s occupational health bureau (OSHB) determined the production business knew firearm safety rules were not being followed and exhibited “plain indifference” to the hazards.
“If Rust Movie Productions, LLC had followed national film industry guidelines for weapon safety, this horrible incident would never have occurred,” Environment Cabinet Secretary James Kenney stated in a statement.
Hutchins was killed in October when a handgun actor and producer Alec Baldwin was practising with fired a live round at her and movie director Joel Souza, who was hurt but survived.
Rust Movie Productions earlier stated that it was unaware of any set safety issues during filming.
In an emailed statement on Wednesday, Rust Movie Productions spokesman Stefan Friedman said, “While we appreciate OSHA’s time and effort in its inquiry, we disagree with its findings and plan to appeal.”
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In New Mexico, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is administered by the OSHB.
Following three unintentional discharges of guns and pyrotechnics on set, the movie company did not begin inquiries into crew members’ complaints regarding firearm safety, according to the six-month study.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office and the Santa Fe County District Attorney are both investigating the death as a criminal matter.
Baldwin has denied any involvement in Hutchins’ death, claiming that live ammunition should never have been permitted on set. The actor said in a televised interview that he did not pull the trigger on the imitation Colt.45 pistol, which fired after he cocked it.
