OHS and the porn industry

California is examining its health and safety regulations and held a hearing to discuss their applicability to the adult film industry. The New York Times report on the issue mocked the workers (for example, noting they arrived fully clothed and repeatedly commenting on their outfits) despite the real health risks faced by workers in the industry. There some interesting aspects to this report.

First, the actors note that, if the proposed rules (which include rubber gloves and eye protection) are enacted and enforced, the industry will decamp to Nevada—costing California up to a billion dollars per year in GDP. It is notable that the actors are making (or at least conveying) this threat, rather than employers.

Second, California’s review panel acknowledged that it it already had unenforced regulations for the industry.

“You are already required to wear condoms; you’re just not doing it,” Dave Thomas, the chairman of the work safety board, said Thursday. “That’s the law. It’s just not being enforced.”

The screamingly obvious questions (not taken up by the author) are why aren’t the regulations being enforced and what is the logic behind creating additional regulations (absent enforcement)?

Third, while OHS on adult films is outside of my area of research interest, there have been numerous popular and academic articles about the degree to which employers and worker cooperate to minimize the risk of sexually transmitted diseases. Interestingly, other occupations (MMA fighters, garbage collectors) face similar health risks without the same degree of regulatory interest.

-- Bob Barnetson