The Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission has upheld citations issued by OSHA to Film Allman LLC after an investigation into the death of a 27-year-old camera assistant and injuries to eight other workers.

Killed by a freight train

Sarah Jones was killed while trying to escape an oncoming freight train during the filming of a scene on Feb. 20, 2014, for the movie "Midnight Rider," a biopic based on the life of musician Gregg Allman. Film Allman LLC had been denied permission to film on the bridge where the accident occurred due to safety concerns.

OSHA cited the company in August, 2014 for one willful and one serious safety violation for exposing employees to struck-by and fall hazards.

Judge Sharon D. Calhoun of the Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission upheld those citations on Sept. 15.

Blatant disregard for safety

"Film Allman's management blatantly disregarded their obligation to ensure the safety of their crew and cast,” said Kurt Petermeyer, OSHA's regional administrator for the Southeast. “They were fully aware that the railroad tracks were live, and that they did not have permission to film there. While yesterday's decision cannot correct or reverse the terrible events of February 2014, we hope that it will serve as a reminder to the film industry that safety has an important, necessary role on every set and in every workplace.

“The death of Sarah Jones is particularly disheartening because it was entirely preventable.”