Amazon MGM’s upcoming Tomb Raider television series has been hit by a UK workplace safety violation during production. The country’s Health and Safety Executive (HSE) determined that the production breached regulations concerning the handling of hazardous substances at Shinfield Studios.
The issue involved the use of isocyanate paints, which can pose serious respiratory risks when sprayed. An improvement notice was issued in April, and the production subsequently addressed the problems within the required timeframe.
What Happened on the Tomb Raider Set?
According to Deadline, the HSE found that the Tomb Raider production had not carried out the required biological monitoring for crew members exposed to isocyanate paints. The substances are commonly used in paints and coatings but can cause occupational asthma when workers are exposed without appropriate safeguards.
HSE guidance requires suitable protective measures when spraying these paints. The resulting spray can create an “invisible mist” that may remain in the surrounding air for as long as 20 minutes, making proper ventilation, protective equipment and assessment of clearance times particularly important.
The regulator issued an improvement notice in April 2026, requiring the production to correct the identified safety shortcomings. The production reportedly responded within a month and rectified the issue, meaning the notice was addressed rather than representing an ongoing violation.
The case is notable because HSE enforcement notices are not commonly associated with major television productions. Deadline reported that the Tomb Raider series was the highest-profile production to receive such an enforcement notice in the UK in the previous four years.
The safety issue is separate from an earlier incident involving star Sophie Turner, who reportedly suffered an injury in March that temporarily halted filming. Production resumed approximately two weeks later after Turner recovered, with no reported connection between the two incidents.
Amazon MGM’s Tomb Raider series is being developed by Phoebe Waller-Bridge, best known for Fleabag and Killing Eve. Turner is set to portray Lara Croft, while the cast also includes Sigourney Weaver, Jason Isaacs and Keeley Hawes.
Filming began in January 2026, but Amazon has not yet announced a release date for the series. The production’s latest safety issue has been resolved, although the HSE action places additional attention on the working conditions behind one of Amazon’s most anticipated upcoming video game adaptations.
