Set negligence leads to life-changing injuries for 'Me Time' worker

Michael Oronoz's life, a worker on the set of the Netflix movie "Me Time" with Mark Wahlberg and Kevin Hart, dramatically changed on September 14, 2021. He was involved in a tragic accident. "Variety" reports that the incident occurred at the Sunset Gower Studio in Hollywood when Oronoz attempted to repair a jammed crane mechanism. During the work, he leaned against a gate that unexpectedly opened, causing him to fall from a height of 10 metres, sustaining severe injuries including fractures of both thighs, wrists, jaw, orbital bones, and a brain hemorrhage. The incident led to a three-week coma and the need to undergo 11 surgeries.

"His heart did stop. They did have to revive him. It took them three times to get him back. His memory of the accident — and the 10 years leading up to it — has been wiped away,," said his wife to the magazine.

The accident prompted Michael and his wife, Selina Oronoz, to raise awareness about the issue of neglected safety standards on film sets. "We want things to be fixed. The buildings are old," says Selina. According to their lawyer, Alexander Eisner, the problem lies in the lack of requirements to adapt older facilities to modern safety standards. He points out that the gate from which Michael fell was designed to open outward into an empty space, which is against safety regulations that clearly state such gates should open inward or slide to prevent accidental falls. A photo taken three months before the accident also showed that the gate was secured with a rope instead of a solid lock.

Despite severe difficulties, Oronoz returned to work on the set, although he is no longer able to perform some tasks. He tires easily, cannot lift more than a few kilograms, and must avoid heights. Unfortunately, Oronoz's tragic accident was not the last. News of another similar incident that took place in February on the set of a Marvel production deepens concerns about safety standards in the industry. A lighting technician fell from a runway and died at the Radford Studio Centre in Studio City. He was working on the series "Wonder Man." An investigation by the prosecutor's office revealed that the cause of the accident was rotten wood that collapsed. "This news broke our hearts," say the Oronozes.

Michael has still not fully recovered. He had to relearn how to walk and talk. "He’s definitely not the same person I married. He’s not the same person my kids remember," says his wife. The couple has five small children. "That’s been the heartache. Knowing this could happen to somebody else we love is scary. We definitely want Michael’s story to be heard," she added.