Published on: October 02, 2019

Richmond, B.C. — WorkSafeBC has completed its incident investigation report (IIR) into the tragic death of a stunt performer on the TCF Vancouver Productions Ltd. (TCF) film set of Deadpool 2 in August 2017.

The primary purpose of WorkSafeBC’s investigation report is to identify the cause of the incident, and any contributing factors, so that similar incidents can be prevented from happening in the future.

Cause of the incident

During the filming of the movie Deadpool 2, a stunt performer died after she was ejected from the motorcycle she was operating and crashed into the window of a building.

Contributing factors

• Failure to conduct a risk assessment: TCF failed to conduct a risk assessment addressing safety controls, speed of the motorcycle, and equipment limitations. The employer failed to complete important health and safety documentation, including a stunt safety inspection checklist and a production activity notification checklist, as required by its own health and safety program.
• Failure to provide new worker orientation: TCF failed to ensure that the stunt performer was provided with a new worker orientation and failed to ensure that the stunt performer completed the young and new worker orientation checklist.
• Inadequate workplace set-up and planning: TCF failed to ensure that the workplace was designed with safety controls in place so that the stunt performer or the motorcycle could not proceed beyond the perimeter of the film set. Barriers were absent that should have prevented the stunt performer and motorcycle from leaving the set perimeter.
• Lack of safety headgear: TCF failed to ensure that the stunt performer was wearing safety headgear as required by the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation and the motorcycle manufacturer.
• Failure to ensure the health and safety of workers: TCF failed to ensure the health and safety of the stunt performer by failing to provide adequate supervision with respect to this work activity.

Health and safety violations

During the investigation, WorkSafeBC identified the following violations of the Workers Compensation Act and the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation by TCF:

• Section 115(1)(a)(i) of the Act — Failure to ensure the health and safety of all workers by failing to identify the hazards and assess and control the risks of the work activity and failing to provide adequate supervision.
• Section 115(2)(b)(ii) of the Act — Failure to ensure that the stunt performer complied with the Regulation by wearing safety headgear while operating the motorcycle.
• Section 115(2)(e) of the Act — Failure to ensure the health and safety of the stunt performer by failing to provide adequate supervision with respect to this work activity.
• Section 3.23(1) of the Regulation — Failure to provide the stunt performer with a new worker orientation.
• Section 8.12(1) of the Regulation — Instructing the stunt performer not to wear safety headgear while operating the motorcycle.

Consideration of administrative penalty

The findings of a WorkSafeBC investigation may result in an administrative penalty where violations of the Workers Compensation Act or the Occupational Health and Safety Regulation have occurred. WorkSafeBC is now considering a penalty based on the findings of the IIR.

Prevention initiatives

To reduce the risk of serious injuries in the motion picture, performing arts and live performance industries, WorkSafeBC has a dedicated prevention team that works with employers, unions and the industry health and safety association (Actsafe).

Through the Film and Production Initiative, WorkSafeBC aims to increase industry awareness of employer requirements and obligations. Employers in the film and production sector are required to identify the risks and hazards of the industry’s work activities, develop appropriate controls, and implement health and safety systems to ensure a safe workplace.

As part of this industry initiative, WorkSafeBC’s primary focus in 2019 is on motion picture, commercial or television production. This includes:

• Enforcing the Workers Compensation Act and Occupational Health and Safety Regulation through site inspections.
• Meeting with senior leaders of major studios and union organizations, and informing them of their responsibilities under the Act and Regulation, including the workplace roles and responsibilities of various parties, and the importance of supervision and risk assessment.
• Engaging producers and production managers who are responsible for planning and directing the work.
• Continuing to work closely with Actsafe to promote occupational health and safety in the film and production sector.

The findings of the incident investigation report are being incorporated into WorkSafeBC’s prevention initiatives directed at preventing injuries in the motion picture industry in B.C.

Resources:

• Incident Investigation Report: TCF Vancouver Productions Ltd.
• Backgrounder: Film and Production Initiative
• Backgrounder: WorkSafeBC Investigations

About WorkSafeBC

WorkSafeBC engages workers and employers to prevent injury, disease, and disability in B.C. When work-related injuries or diseases occur, WorkSafeBC provides compensation and support to people in their recovery, rehabilitation, and safe return to work. We serve approximately 2.4 million workers and 245,000 employers across B.C.

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For more information, contact:

Media Relations, WorkSafeBC
Tel: 604.276.5157
Email: media@worksafebc.com