Production firm admits health and safety breaches after Harrison Ford breaks leg filming Star Wars at Pinewood

A production company which worked on the latest Star Wars film has pleaded guilty to two counts of breaching safety regulations after Harrison Ford broke his leg on set at Pinewood Studios.

Foodles Production (UK) Ltd,  which is based in London, appeared at Milton Keynes Magistrates Court today.

The charges relate in an incident which took place in June 2015 on the set of Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Ford, 73, suffered a broken leg and other injuries when he was struck by a heavy hydraulic metal door on the set of the Millennium Falcon at the studios in Iver Heath and had to be airlifted to hospital.

A spokesman for Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: “During the filming of Star Wars Episode Seven: The Force Awakens, the actor Harrison Ford was badly injured after he became trapped under a rapidly closing metal-framed door. The power of the door’s drive system was comparable to the weight of a small car.

“This was a foreseeable incident. Foodles Production (UK) Ltd has accepted it failed to protect actors and staff and HSE welcomes the firm’s guilty plea.

“Every employer in every industry has a legal duty to manage risks in the workplace. Risks are part and parcel of everyday life, and this is acknowledged by health and safety law – but they still need to be identified and managed in a proportionate way.

“The British film industry has a world renowned reputation for making exceptional films. Managing on-set risks in a sensible and proportionate way for all actors and staff – regardless of their celebrity status – is vital to protecting both on-screen and off-screen talent, as well as protecting the reputation of the industry.”

The case has now been transferred to Aylesbury Crown Court.