SANTA FE, New Mexico
- "RUST" UPDATE.. $136,793 fine, indifference to employee safety.
The New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau has issued a citation to Rust Movie Productions LLC following its investigation into the accidental shooting death in October of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins at the Bonanza Creek Ranch south of Santa Fe.
The bureau found "plain indifference to employee safety" on the Rust film set and a "failure to follow firearm safety procedures," according to a report on the investigation released Wednesday.
Authorities have said Hutchins, 42, was fatally shot Oct. 21 in a church building on the ranch when a revolver held by actor Alec Baldwin, who was a star and co-producer of the film project, discharged during a rehearsal.
Director Joel Souza was wounded in the incident.
Rust Movie Productions was issued a "willful-serious" citation, the state's highest workplace violation, and faces a maximum fine of $136,793. State law gave the agency six months to issue any citations.
"Our investigation found that this tragic incident never would have happened if Rust Movie Productions, LLC had followed national film industry standards for firearm safety," state Environment Secretary James Kenney said in a statement. "This is a complete failure of the employee to follow recognized national protocols that keep employees safe."
