Fatal Scaffolding Collapse at Port Arthur LNG Site – April 29, 2025

Incident Details

• Date: April 29, 2025

• Location: Port Arthur LNG construction site, Sabine Pass, Texas

• Facility: Port Arthur LNG Terminal (Phase 1 project)

• Companies Involved: Sempra Infrastructure (owner), Bechtel Energy (construction contractor)

• Type of Incident: Scaffolding collapse involving a tank jump form system

• Known Cause: Under investigation; preliminary reports indicate a structural failure during elevated work

• Injuries: Two workers sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were hospitalized

• Fatalities: Three workers died after falling approximately 65 to 85 feet

• Environmental Impact: None reported

• Community Impact: No immediate offsite effects; heightened concerns over worker safety

• Emergency Response: Jefferson County Sheriff's Office and emergency medical services responded; OSHA notified

• Investigations: Ongoing by OSHA, Jefferson County authorities, and internal reviews by Bechtel and Sempra

• Legal Action: Wrongful death lawsuits filed by families of the deceased workers

• Estimated Financial Losses: Not disclosed; construction activities halted pending investigation

• Regulatory History: No prior major incidents reported at this site; Bechtel has faced scrutiny in other projects for safety practices

Incident Report

In the early hours of April 29, 2025, a tragic accident occurred at the Port Arthur LNG construction site in Sabine Pass, Texas. Around 2:00 a.m., a section of scaffolding, part of a tank jump form system used for constructing large concrete storage tanks, collapsed while workers were performing elevated tasks. The failure resulted in three workers falling from a height estimated between 65 and 85 feet.

Two of the workers, Reginald Magee and Felipe Mendez, were pronounced dead at the scene. The third, Felix Lopez Sr., succumbed to his injuries at Christus St. Elizabeth Hospital in Beaumont. Two additional workers who were on the scaffolding at the time sustained non-life-threatening injuries and were treated at a local hospital.

The Port Arthur LNG project, a significant development by Sempra Infrastructure with Bechtel Energy as the construction contractor, immediately ceased all operations following the incident. Bechtel released a statement expressing deep sorrow and confirmed that all craft professionals were sent home to be with their families. The company is cooperating fully with investigations led by OSHA and local authorities and has initiated its own internal review.

The cause of the scaffolding collapse remains under investigation. Preliminary observations suggest a structural failure, but it is unclear whether safety harnesses were in use or if other safety protocols were followed. The incident has prompted renewed scrutiny of safety practices in large-scale industrial construction projects.

Families of the deceased workers have filed wrongful death lawsuits, alleging negligence and seeking accountability for the loss of their loved ones. The community mourns the loss of these workers, emphasizing the need for stringent safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.