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“Star Wars: The Force Awakens” Star Harrison Ford (Han Solo) ignites court battle after suffering an injury while on set – What actors need to know about their safety while filming

Category: Personal Injury

Legendary “Star Wars” actor Harrison Ford, a.k.a. Han Solo, 71, was seriously injured on the set of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” when a heavy hydraulic door hit him, leaving his leg broken. The Millennium Falcon’s spacecraft door malfunction as well as Ford’s broken leg have surfaced, causing British workplace and safety authorities to prosecute the production company behind the film.

Foodles Production (UK), Ltd., bought by Disney, is being sued for four alleged breaches of health and safety law.

“By law, employers must take reasonable steps to protect workers — this is as true on a film set as a factory floor,” said Britain’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE). “We have investigated thoroughly and believe that we have sufficient evidence to bring the case to court.”

On May 12, 2016, company representatives will meet in High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, to address the four charges.

In December 2015, Disney hit the $1 Billion mark faster than any other film in history.

As for Ford, the iconic actor underwent surgery and poked fun at J.J. Abrams about the incident during promotional appearances last December.

More importantly, this incident ignites concern about actor safety on movie sets.

The Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) is an American labor union representing more than 160,000 film and TV principal and background performers, journalists and radio personalities worldwide. SAG-AFTRA is a member of the AFL-CIO, the largest federation of unions in the U.S. This union fights for wages, working conditions, residuals and pension and health benefits for its members.

 

Incidents where actors were seriously injured on set

Sylvester Stallone landed himself nine days in the intensive care unit after being hit so hard in the chest that it caused his pericardial sac to become swollen (Stallone instructed the other actor to actually try to knock him out).

In the 1986 film “Armour of God,” Jackie Chan jumped off of a castle wall, missed the target and fell 25 feet to the ground, fracturing his skull and driving a piece of bone into his brain, causing blood to rush out of his ears. Chan, known for doing most, if not all, of his stunts, hit the target the first time, but wasn’t so lucky the second.

During filming of “The Eagle” in 2009, Channing Tatum suffered severe burns to his private parts after boiling water was poured into his wetsuit. The crew member was supposed to mix boiling water with cold river water, to warm up the actor before wading through freezing, icy water in the film. However, he forgot to add the cold river water, and Tatum was rushed to the nearest hospital for treatment.

 

Government mandates more thorough injury reports on film and TV sets

Starting Jan. 1, 2016, the federal government mandated more thorough reporting of injuries on film and TV productions. The new Occupational Safety & Health Administration requirements demand that all accidents that result in trips to the hospital must be reported to the agency.

Many incidents have gone unreported. According to the agency’s database, less than a dozen stunt or special effects-related injuries were reported in the past 10 years. Plus, only a handful of other injuries including falls on set and a few accidents involving props have been reported, (I.e. the train crash that killed camera assistant Sarah Jones on location in Georgia in February 2015.)

Some actors fear being blacklisted if they file an accident report. However, this is NOT encouraged.

Although both union and non-union jobs may attempt to create a safe working environment, it is ultimately the actor’s duty that they proceed with caution. Ask questions – make sure props are handled with care (I.e. knives, guns, swords). It is imperative that production companies do not put actors (or crew) at risk. Read contracts including the fine print, and notice if they state that they are not liable for any injury incurred on set. Finally, don’t be desperate.