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2 production companies cited after worker killed days before 2024 EDC Festival in Orlando: OSHA

By and
Updated  June 17, 2025 1:53pm EDT
Orange County
FOX 35 Orlando
Person killed in apparent accident at Camping World Stadium

Person killed in apparent accident at Camping World Stadium

A person was killed in an apparent accident at Camping World Stadium, though few details about what happened have been released. Crews have begun to set up stages and structures ahead of EDC 2024, which will be held Nov. 8-10 on the stadium grounds. However, it is not known if the death was related to the festival setup. FOX 35 has reached out to Camping World Stadium and festival organizers for details.

The Brief

    • Two event production companies were cited by OSHA after a stagehand was killed during setup for the 2024 Electric Daisy Carnival in Orlando.
    • The worker, 33-year-old Misael Aguirre, died when a steel brace fell due to inadequate structural support and lack of safety procedures.
    • One company paid nearly $20,000 in fines, while the other is contesting the findings.

ORLANDO, Fla. - Two production companies hired to help put on the Electric Daisy Carnival – a popular EDM festival near downtown Orlando – have been cited by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for serious violations after a man was killed after part of the stage structure collapsed on top of him. 

Misael Aguirre, 33, a well-liked stagehand from Texas, was killed in October 2024, days before the festival, after a black steel piece of scaffolding fell on top of him, according to police reports.

The fines come eight months after the deadly incident.

The backstory:

In October 2024, there was a workplace accident at Camping World Stadium, where several crews were preparing for the 2024 Electric Daisy Carnival.

Orlando police confirmed on Oct. 30 that there had been a workplace accident the day before and that someone had died. 

Few details about the nature of the accident were released in the days or weeks following that accident.

FOX 35 obtained, through a public records request, details on OPD's investigation, including the name of the person killed: 33-year-old Misael Aguirre, who was employed by James Thomas Productions LLC.

EDC

What happened?

According to the investigative report, surveillance video showed several workers building large pieces of scaffolding when something broke, causing a large piece of debris to fall on him.

Initially, the man was alert and talking, leading people around him to believe that his injuries were not serious or life-threatening. 

The Medical Examiner would later determine that Aguirre died from blunt impact to his head, neck, and torso, as well as cuts to his liver and lung. His death was ruled accidental. 

Orlando police also ruled the man's death accidental. No charges were filed.

The detective wrote in his report that there was "no set procedure" in place for building the scaffolding – and that several people acknowledged safety concerns, no one spoke up or took action to address them.

"Miseal was killed due to injuries he sustained when a purlin broke and the black steel brace fell on him," OPD's report said.

"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 citations and possible fines

OSHA cited James Thomas Production LLC and Stage FX Inc. following the man's death. 

Both are accused of "failing to maintain structural stability during the erection of a stage and failing to provide proper employee training on the associated hazards."

OSHA said James Thomas Productions paid more than $19,000 to resolve its violations. Stage FX has contested the violations.

A spokesperson for James Thomas Productions declined to comment on OSHA's fines.

"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," a spokesperson previously told FOX 35 in November 2024.

FOX 35 has reached out to Stage FX for comment.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the construction sector had the highest number of fatalities with 92 fatalities in 2023 in the private industry, with falls, slips and trips resulting in 43 of the 92 construction sector fatalities.

The federal agency continues to emphasize the importance of preventing struck-by hazards in temporary stage setups and urges employers to utilize OSHA’s free compliance assistance resources.

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The Source: The information in this article comes from the Orlando Police Department and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA).

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