Star Wars producers plead guilty following Harrison Ford injury
The production company on Star Wars: The Force Awakens, Foodles Production, pleaded guilty this week to failing to protect actors and workers.
In an incident in June 2014, the actor Harrison Ford was struck by a metal door on the set of the Millennium Falcon. He suffered a broken leg and other injuries.
A spokesperson for the Health and Safety Executive said: “During the filming of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the actor Harrison Ford was badly injured after he became trapped under a rapidly closing metal-framed door. The power of the door’s drive system was comparable to the weight of a small car.
“This was a foreseeable incident. Foodles Production (UK) Limited has accepted it failed to protect actors and staff, and HSE welcomes the firm’s guilty plea.
“Every employer in every industry has a legal duty to manage risks in the workplace. Risks are part and parcel of everyday life, and this is acknowledged by health and safety law – but they still need to be identified and managed in a proportionate way.
“The British film industry has a world renowned reputation for making exceptional films. Managing on set risks in a sensible and proportionate way for all actors and staff – regardless of their celebrity status – is vital to protecting both on-screen and off-screen talent, as well as protecting the reputation of the industry.”
Foodles Production, based in Queen Caroline Street, London, appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates’ Court this week. The company pleaded guilty to two charges and the case has now been transferred to Aylesbury Crown Court.