Failure to secure film set equipment leaves worker fighting for life

Michael Oronoz's life, a crew member on the Netflix film "Me Time" featuring Mark Wahlberg and Kevin Hart, was divided into "before" and "after" on 14 September 2021. Oronoz suffered a tragic accident. "Variety" reports that the incident took place at the Sunset Gower studio in Hollywood when Oronoz attempted to fix a jammed crane mechanism. During his work, he leaned against a gate that unexpectedly opened, causing him to fall from a height of 33 feet. He sustained severe injuries, including fractures of both thighs, wrists, jaw, and eye sockets, as well as an intracerebral haemorrhage. The incident led to a three-week coma and required 11 surgeries.

"His heart did stop. They did have to revive him. It took them three times to get him back. His memory of the accident — and the 10 years leading up to it — has been wiped away," said his wife to the magazine.

The accident prompted Michael and his wife, Selina Oronoz, to highlight the issue of neglected safety standards on film sets. "We want things to be fixed. The buildings are old," says Selina. According to their lawyer, Alexander Eisner, the problem is the lack of requirements to adapt older facilities to contemporary safety standards. He points out that the gate Michael fell from was supposed to open outward into an empty space, which contradicts safety regulations that clearly state such gates should open inward or slide to avoid accidental falls. A photo taken three months before the accident also shows that the gate was secured with a string instead of a sturdy lock.

Despite severe difficulties, Oronoz returned to work on the set, although he can no longer perform some tasks. He tires easily, cannot lift more than a few pounds, and must avoid heights. Unfortunately, Oronoz's tragic accident wasn't the last. News of another similar incident that took place in February on the set of a Marvel production deepens the concern about safety standards in the industry. A lighting technician fell from a runway and died at Radford Studio Center in Studio City. He was working on the series "Wonder Man." The prosecutor's investigation revealed that the cause of the accident was rotten wood that collapsed. "This news broke our hearts," say the Oronozezes.

Michael still hasn't fully recovered. He had to learn to walk and talk again. "He’s definitely not the same person I married. He’s not the same person my kids remember," says his wife. The couple has five young children. "That’s been the heartache. Knowing this could happen to somebody else we love is scary. We definitely want Michael’s story to be heard," she added.