UPDATE at 11:08 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015: A Cal/OSHA spokeswoman confirmed the investigation. See more at the bottom.

Following allegations against James Deen by several women, some of them his co-stars, state workplace safety officials are looking into possible violations at adult video productions connected to the crossover porn star, the L.A.-based AIDS Healthcare Foundation announced tonight.

In recent weeks several women have come forward to allege that Deen has raped them and physically assaulted them both on-set and off. Deen, speaking via Twitter, has denied the allegations.

We reached out to a publicist for Deen but weren't able to speak to anyone immediately. 

The AIDS Healthcare Foundation today said in a statement that the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA) “has opened an investigation of James Deen Productions (DBA Third Rock Enterprises) for serious workplace health and safety violations.”

The foundation, which has been critical of the adult video industry for its reluctance to adopt condom use on-set, says it “filed a formal ‘Notice of Alleged Safety or Health Hazards’ complaint against Deen with OSHA.”

In a news conference tonight, AHF president Michael Weinstein said the investigation was launched after his group amended a previous complaint against Deen to reflect the recent allegations of sexual violence on-set.

“James Deen could be cited for workplace violence as well as health and safety violations,” Weinstein said.

Cal/OSHA officials said they were trying to determine if they've opened an investigation. Adam Cohen, a public health consultant at AHF, said state officials confirmed the investigation to him.

“I have spoken with the Cal/OSHA investigation team and they told me they have opened up the case,” Cohen told reporters tonight.

On Nov. 28, ex-girlfriend Stoya tweeted that Deen had raped her. Since then, about seven other women have come forward with accusations.

“James Deen held me down and f—ked me while I said no, stop, used my safe word,” Stoya wrote. “I just can’t nod and smile when people bring him up anymore.”

A number of allegations followed, and some adult-business concerns severed ties with Deen.

Ironically, Deen was fashioned in the media as a “male feminist” even as his on-camera persona was aggressive and even abusive. He also supported the adult industry's unsuccessful fight against Los Angeles County's mandatory condom law for porn.

The accusations have highlighted porn's obsession with the on-screen (and ostensibly fantasy-based) abuse of women. Many of his accusers said that Deen choked, slapped and forced himself on them between breaks in shooting.

The Los Angeles Police Department told us today it has no knowledge of any open investigations into the rape allegations.

UPDATE at 11:08 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 8, 2015: A Cal/OSHA spokeswoman confirmed to us via email tonight that “Cal/OSHA is actively investigating James Deen Productions.”

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