Deadpool 2 Producers' Safety Violations Contributed To Stuntwoman Joi Harris' Death

Numerous safety regulation violations contributed to the death of a stuntwoman on the set of Deadpool 2, an investigation has found.

Joi Harris - who was performing her first ever film stunt - was killed in Vancouver, Canada in August 2017 after being ejected from the motorbike she was riding and smashing through the window of a building.

An investigation by British Colombia safety organisation WorkSafeBC found the film's production company, TCF Vancouver Productions Ltd., to be in breach of numerous safety regulations - notably 'instructing the stunt performer not to wear safety headgear while operating the motorcycle'.

The report, which was released on Wednesday, said the company "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."

TCF Vancouver Productions Ltd. also: "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."

The production company may now be penalised following the report, which concluded: "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."

Harris, 40, was described by friends as a pioneering motorcycle racer who served as an inspiration to African-American women pursuing the sport.

The report said Harris' motorbike became airborne after riding down two ramps, leaving her clinging on to the handlebars. The motorbike then crashed into a central reservation and ejected Harris from the bike, sending her through a window.

20th Century Fox reached an out-of-court settlement with Harris' family in April, according to Deadline. However, the film studio said it refuted some of the claims made in the report.

According to Times Colonist, a spokesperson said: "Safety is our top priority, and while we respectfully disagree with some of the report's findings, Fox thoroughly reviewed its stunt safety protocols immediately following the tragic accident and has revised and implemented enhanced safety procedures and enforcement."

TCF Vancouver Productions Ltd. could not be reached for comment.

Featured Image Credit: 20th Century Fox

Topics: TV and Film, US News, US Entertainment

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

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