Two porn companies fined for allowing unprotected sex

The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health has taken unprecedented action against the pornography industry, fining two straight adult film companies more than $30,000 apiece for allegedly allowing actors to perform unprotected sex. Evasive Angles and TTB Productions, which share the same San Fernando Valley address, were cited for violating the state's blood-borne pathogen standard, which requires employers to protect workers exposed to blood or bodily fluids on the job; failing to notify authorities about actors who contract HIV on the job; failing to have a written injury-prevention program; and failing to report a workplace accident within eight hours, agency officials said. The investigation of the companies began months ago after an industry worker filed a complaint. The increased scrutiny of safer sex practices on the sets of porn films was prompted by the discovery of five HIV-positive adult film performers earlier this year, three of whom are believed to have been infected during filming by a male performer who acquired the virus while working in Brazil. All of the infections occurred among performers in straight adult films. Sources tell Advocate.com that because the vast majority of gay porn companies already require condom use for anal sex scenes that the HIV outbreak did not affect gay adult film productions or performers. (AP, with additional reporting by Advocate.com)