03-08-2025
- Entertainment
- Miami Herald
Proposed OSHA fines for two companies after Orlando EDM festival prep death
Two Los Angeles area companies got cited by OSHA for the death of a worker helping set up a popular Orlando EDM festival last fall.
James Thomas Productions and Stage FX each got cited for the same two violations in the death of a man Orlando TV station Fox 35 identified as Misael Aguirre, who other sources say was a 33-year-old from San Antonio, Texas. OSHA listed Aguirre as a James Thomas employee in its description of his Oct. 30 death while setting up Electric Daisy Carnival at Camping World Stadium.
'At 3 p.m. on Oct. 30, an employee working for a performance promotion company was erecting a stage roof section,' OSHA stated. 'The steel frame structure collapsed to the ground during erection and struck the employee on the ground. The employee died from crush injuries to his chest and neck.'
READ MORE: An OSHA warning about that email alerting you to a coming inspection
James Thomas of Manhattan Beach, California, negotiated its proposed fine down from $33,100 and paid $19,860. Stage FX of Ontario, California, facing a proposed $31,445 fine, chose to contest the violations before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
The U.S. Department of Labor's workplace safety division stated on each company's Citation and Notification of Penalty that 'structural stability was not maintained at all times during the erection process.'
In further explanation, 'the employer did not ensure the 1,143-pound black steel frames were stable and supported to prevent the stage roof sections from collapsing while connecting aluminum purlins.'
Each company also got cited for exposing workers to 'crushing hazards while connecting and assembling the stage roof sections, in that, proper training of the hazards associated with connecting were not provided.'
To report possible workplace safety violations to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, phone 800-321-6742 (OSHA), go to your local OSHA office or file the complaint online.
