The film production company attached to the fatal shooting on the "Rust" movie set said a safety meeting was held the morning of the tragedy.

They alleged that should prove the company did not willfully violate any safety protocol.

Rust Movie Productions is challenging sanctions imposed in April by the state of New Mexico for alleged workplace violations, according to KOB 4. 

Alec Baldwin, actor and co-producer of the movie, fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October on the set of "Rust."

The New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau fined Rust Movie Productions the maximum amount of $137,000. The organization issued a report outlining a list of safety violations, including the failure to address two misfires of blank ammunition on the set prior to the fatal shooting, KOB 4 reported.

The production company responded to the state's charges, which could have implications for several pending lawsuits

"In fact, a safety meeting was held the morning of the incident," Rust Movie Productions officials said. 

The company also challenged the notion that film set armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed was overburdened, insisting she had ample time to properly inspect and safeguard all firearms and ammunition on the set, and denied responsibility for what took place.

"The law properly permits producers to delegate such critical functions as firearm safety to experts in that field and does not place such responsibility on producers, whose expertise is in arranging financing and contracting for the logistics of filming," Rust Movie Productions said in its filing, according to KOB 4. The company said it "did not 'willfully' violate any safety protocol, and in fact enforced all applicable safety protocols."

The tragedy occurred on Oct. 21 on a set just outside of Santa Fe. Baldwin was pointing a gun at Hutchins while filming a scene when it went off, killing Hutchins and wounding the movie's director, Joel Souza.

Adan Mendoza, Santa Fe County sheriff, said his investigation of the shooting revealed disorganization and neglected safety measures in the making of the low-budget movie. Mendoza will wait for a forensic analysis of the weapon, projectile, fingerprints, and other evidence before deciding whether to pursue criminal charges, KOB 4 reported.

The state's report and reasons for sanctions against Rust Movie Productions hold implications for at least five lawsuits filed over the shooting. The list includes a wrongful death suit brought by Hutchins' family against Baldwin and the movie's other producers.

Rust Movie Productions said in its filing that "all personnel on set were instructed that they had the authority to cease activities at any time until safety concerns were resolved, with film union stewards on-site to ensure compliance with labor union safety protocols," KOB 4 said.