Analysis of Film Set Injuries and Deaths (2002-2024)

Posted on February 12, 2026 in Workers' Compensation

The motion picture and video industries play a significant role in entertainment and culture within the US, producing films, television shows, video games, and various forms of digital content. Motion picture production in particular involves a large crew working from on-set locations to production studios, each presenting its own set of risks. Despite the glamour associated with filmmaking, accidental deaths in Hollywood have occurred over the years. Workers in the industry face a high-stakes environment and the risks of a catastrophic or even fatal accidents remain a constant concern.

This analysis on data reported by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has been conducted by Los Angeles workers’ compensation attorneys and compiles statistics on film set injuries and deaths from 2002 to 2024. The report from OSHA defines fatalities and catastrophes as follows:

• Fatality. An employee death resulting from a work-related incident or exposure; in general, from an accident or an illness caused by or related to a workplace hazard.
• Catastrophe. The hospitalization of employees resulting from a work-related incident or exposure; in general, from an accident or an illness caused by a workplace hazard.

Given the prominence and sheer scale of the film industry, it’s important to analyze the workplace hazards that can lead to traumatic accidents on film sets.

Key Findings

• From 2002 to 2024, there were 152 catastrophic incidents (fatalities or serious injuries) reported on film sets.
• 32 deaths due to accidents were reported in the motion picture industry overall from 2002 to 2024, with 22 deaths (69%) occurring on film sets.
• The leading cause of deaths on movie sets were falls (e.g., from ladders, catwalks, balconies), followed by motor vehicle crashes during filming and stunt-related accidents.
• Laborers (non-construction) — often film set workers handling heavy equipment and setups — were most likely to be killed or seriously injured.

Table of Contents

• How Many Incidents Have Occurred On Film Sets?
• How Many Deaths Have Occurred On Film Sets?
• Who Gets Injured the Most?
• Causes of Death on Film Sets
• Fatal Incident Reports

How Many Incidents Have Occurred on Film Sets?

Since 2002, there have been 152 separate incidents resulting in catastrophic injury or death. With a total of 16, 2019 had the most reported incidents in this time period. Following the October 2021 Rust incident involving Alec Baldwin, rates have fallen significantly- perhaps due to increased scrutiny on the industry.

How Many Deaths Have Occurred on Film Sets?

There have been 32 deaths on film sets between 2002 and 2024. Excluding deaths from distribution and theaters, deaths on movie sets lead the way with 22 fatal incidents. The deadliest year within the scope of this study was 2011 with a total of 5 deaths on film sets — 4 of which were the result of falls.

At 22 deaths, film sets account for 69% of fatalities in this industry while theaters and distribution have 9 and 1 deaths, respectively.

Who Gets Injured the Most On Film Sets?

Of incidents with a reported job title, those with job titles categorized as “Laborers, except construction” were the most likely to be killed or injured on film sets, followed by “actors and directors” and “artists, performers and related workers.”

Laborers, often referred to as set workers, are typically responsible for tasks such as setting up production equipment, installing and moving props, and rigging and dismantling heavy equipment such as scaffolding, platforms, and backdrops. Compared to other job duties, this puts them at a unique risk for serious film set accidents like slips, falls, and crushing injuries.

Causes of Deaths on Film Sets

Between 2002 and 2024, fatalities on film sets have stemmed from a variety of hazards, but the most common causes involve falls and related head injuries or other impact trauma to the body. Other fatal incidents include vehicle-related accidents (some also involving head trauma), drowning, and stuntmen falls leading to head injury. Less frequent but still reported causes include toxic exposure, fire, shooting incidents, and heart attacks. Overall, this data highlights that both action-related risks, such as accidental falls and motor vehicle accidents, and environmental factors contribute to on-set deaths.

Fatal Incident Reports in the Film Industry

Below is an interactive database of all reported fatal incidents between 2002 and 2024 in the movie and film industry. Click the drop down arrow to view details of each incident reported by OSHA.