Producers of The Walking Dead hit with maximum fine

The production company behind hit TV show The Walking Dead has been handed the maximum possible fine by the US Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) following the death of a stunt man last year. 

John Bernecker fell 25 feet onto concrete while rehearsing a fight for the show. The 33-year-old was airlifted to Atlanta Medical Centre where he spent time on a ventilator before passing away. 

It was announced on the 5th of January 2017 that OSHA had fined production company Stalwart Films the maximum amount permitted, $12,675 (£9,340), for ‘failure to provide adequate protection from fall hazards’.

OSHA released a statement saying: ‘This tragedy should serve as a wake-up call for the entertainment industry. The entire industry needs to commit to safety practices for actors and stunt people involved in this type of work.’

However Stalwart Films expressed its disappointment to Entertainment Weekly, claiming that Bernecker's death was a 'tragic and terrible accident.' and that it 'takes the safety of our employees extremely seriously on all of our sets and comply with – and frequently exceed – industry safety standards. We disagree with the issuance of this citation and are considering our response.’