Two production companies involved in building the stage for the 2024 Electric Daisy Carnival in Orlando have been cited for serious safety violations following the death of a 33-year-old stagehand in a workplace accident, per FOX 35 Orlando.
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The U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) cited James Thomas Productions LLC and Stage FX Inc. after an investigation found both companies failed to maintain structural stability and failed to properly train workers on related hazards.
Workers were preparing the stage at Camping World Stadium in October 2024 when the incident happened. Misael Aguirre, a stagehand from Texas, was fatally injured when a steel piece of scaffolding collapsed on top of him.
Stagehand Death Occurred at Festival
On October 29, 2024, several crews were assembling the festival stage when a structural component, known as a purlin, gave way. According to police reports and surveillance footage, the break caused a large steel brace to fall directly onto Aguirre.
At first, those nearby believed Aguirre's injuries were minor. He was conscious and able to speak. However, the Orange County Medical Examiner ruled that blunt-force trauma to Aguirre's head, neck and torso, along with internal injuries to his liver and lung, caused his death. Medical personnel pronounced him dead later that day. Investigators ruled his death accidental.
Orlando Police Department detectives concluded there was no criminal wrongdoing but highlighted major procedural failings. According to the report, there was "no set procedure" for building the scaffold structure. Although multiple crew members had raised concerns about safety, no formal protocols were followed, and no one intervened.
"Although more purlins in place, a forklift holding the steel brace, or other precautions may have prevented his death, there was no set procedure in place for the assembly," the report stated.
OSHA Investigation Follows
Following an eight-month investigation, OSHA cited both companies for "failing to maintain structural stability during the erection of a stage and failing to provide proper employee training on the associated hazards."
OSHA fined James Thomas Productions more than $19,000 for its violations. Stage FX Inc. challenged the citation, and OSHA is still reviewing the case.
When contacted in November 2024, a spokesperson for James Thomas Productions issued a brief statement:
"Our thoughts continue to be with the family during this difficult time. However, this matter is an active investigation, and we are unable to comment further at this time."
Industry-Wide Concerns
The case has drawn renewed attention to safety concerns in the live entertainment industry, particularly in temporary stage construction.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction sector had the highest number of fatalities in the private industry in 2023, with 92 deaths. Of those, 43 were the result of falls, slips or trips. The federal agency continues to urge employers to take struck-by hazards seriously and to use OSHA's free resources to improve compliance.
