‘Midnight Rider’ film production company cited for safety violations

The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited a film production company for safety violations related to a deadly train accident during the filming of the Gregg Allman biopic “Midnight Rider.”

OSHA cited the Pasadena company Film Allman LLC for “one willful and one serious safety violation” for exposing employees to hazards, with proposed penalties totaling $74,900, the administration said Thursday.

In February, 27-year-old camera assistant Sarah Jones was killed and other crew members were injured when a train unexpectedly came onto a bridge where they were filming in Georgia.

OSHA said in a news release that the production company failed to provide safety measures to protect the employees from trains and exposed workers to “fall hazards.”

“Employers are responsible for taking the necessary precautions to protect workers’ health and safety, and the entertainment industry is no exception,” said David Michaels, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health, in a statement.

The administration said the film company has 15 business days to comply, request a conference with OSHA’s Savannah, Ga., director or contest the citation.

In July, filmmakers Randall Miller and his wife Jody Savin were charged with involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespass in connection with the deadly accident. Both have pleaded not guilty. A third flimmaker, Jay Sedrish, was also charged, though he has yet to be arraigned.

Don Samuel, the lawyer representing the filmmakers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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