Port Arthur LNG Crane Incident: Negligence Claims Arise After Scaffolding Collapse

The catastrophic scaffolding collapse at the Port Arthur LNG construction site on April 29, 2025, which resulted in the deaths of three workers and injuries to two others, has ignited a flurry of negligence claims and legal actions. This tragic event, which halted work on the massive industrial project, has brought intense scrutiny to safety protocols and oversight on large-scale construction sites. With investigations underway and lawsuits mounting, the focus is now on determining the root causes of the collapse and who should be held accountable.

The Port Arthur LNG Project: A Site of Ambition and Risk

The Port Arthur LNG project, a joint venture between Sempra Infrastructure and ConocoPhillips, represents a significant investment in the future of energy. Located near the Gulf of Mexico, the facility is designed to process 13 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas (LNG) annually, with commercial operations slated to begin in 2027-2028. The project has already invested over $40 million in local infrastructure and workforce development and employs approximately 5,000 workers at peak construction. However, this ambition is shadowed by the inherent risks of large-scale industrial construction, as tragically demonstrated by the recent scaffolding collapse.

The Scaffolding Collapse: A Chain of Failures?

The incident occurred at approximately 2:00 a.m. during overnight work on a concrete tank. A section of the scaffolding, part of a vertical jump form system, suddenly gave way, causing workers to fall from a significant height. Three workers, Reginald Magee, Felipe Mendez, and Felix Lopez Sr., lost their lives, while two others sustained injuries.

Initial reports suggested a potential structural failure or crane-related mishap. Eyewitness accounts and visual evidence indicated that a section of the circular scaffold detached from the structure, with a loose rigging strap observed near a crane hook. This raised questions about whether a load slipped from the strap and struck the scaffolding, leading to the collapse.

Bechtel, the construction contractor at the site, has launched its own investigation and is cooperating with authorities. The company has confirmed that a “tank jump form system incident” occurred and has temporarily halted all work on the project.

Negligence Claims and Legal Battles

The scaffolding collapse has triggered a wave of negligence claims and wrongful death lawsuits. Families of the deceased workers and injured employees are seeking compensation for their losses, alleging unsafe working conditions, inadequate scaffolding, and failures in oversight and planning.

Several key legal issues are at play:

Liability: Determining who is liable for the collapse is a central question. Potential defendants include Bechtel (the construction contractor), Sempra Infrastructure and ConocoPhillips (the project owners), and potentially even the manufacturers of the scaffolding or its components if defects are found.
Negligence: Plaintiffs will need to demonstrate that the defendants were negligent in their duties to provide a safe working environment. This could involve proving violations of safety regulations, inadequate training, or a failure to identify and address known hazards.
Third-Party Claims: In some cases, injured workers may be able to pursue third-party claims against entities other than their employer if those entities contributed to the accident through negligence.
Worker’s Compensation: While worker’s compensation provides medical coverage and wage replacement benefits, it typically does not allow for pain and suffering damages. This is why third-party lawsuits are often pursued to seek additional compensation.

Bechtel’s Internal Investigation and Safety Reforms

In response to the tragedy, Bechtel conducted an internal investigation and released its findings in October 2025. The report identified seven contributing factors to the incident, including:

Improperly secured bracket connection: Investigators found that the left-side bracket on the formwork was not properly attached to a cone screw, a steel bolt used to anchor the formwork to the concrete tank wall.
Fall protection utilization: All five crew members wore project-issued fall arrest equipment, but Bechtel determined that the three men who died were not connected to approved anchorage points.
Inadequate Training: All five members of the crew were recent hires who, at the time of hire, had limited or no prior experience in repositioning formwork by jumping.

Bechtel has announced sweeping reforms intended to prevent similar tragedies, including:

A triple-verification process to ensure brackets are properly secured before work continues.
Indefinite suspension of nighttime formwork jumping company-wide.
Enhanced training programs for workers involved in high-risk activities.
Stricter enforcement of safety protocols and disciplinary action for violations.

The Role of OSHA and Regulatory Scrutiny

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) is conducting its own investigation into the scaffolding collapse. OSHA’s investigation will focus on determining whether safety regulations were violated and whether Bechtel or other parties failed to provide a safe working environment. If violations are found, OSHA could impose significant fines and penalties.

Crane Involvement and Rigging Safety

The potential involvement of a crane in the scaffolding collapse has also come under scrutiny. Reports indicate that a crane was being used to lift and reposition sections of the formwork when the incident occurred. Questions have been raised about whether the crane was properly rigged and whether the load was properly secured.

If a crane malfunction or operator error contributed to the collapse, additional negligence claims could be filed against the crane operator, the crane rental company, or other responsible parties.

The Importance of Scaffolding Safety

Scaffolding is an essential component of many construction projects, providing workers with a temporary, elevated platform to perform their tasks. However, scaffolding can also be extremely dangerous if not properly designed, constructed, and maintained.

Common causes of scaffolding collapses include:

Unsafe scaffold design and construction
Failure to provide fall protection
Workers overloading the scaffolding
Failure to properly secure, support, or stabilize the scaffolding
Use of defective equipment
Failure to maintain the scaffolding in a safe condition

Seeking Legal Assistance After a Scaffolding Accident

If you or a loved one has been injured in a scaffolding accident, it is crucial to seek legal assistance from an experienced personal injury attorney. A knowledgeable attorney can help you understand your legal rights, investigate the accident, and pursue all available avenues of compensation.

Conclusion

The Port Arthur LNG crane incident and scaffolding collapse serve as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in large-scale construction projects. As investigations continue and lawsuits proceed, the focus remains on uncovering the truth, holding responsible parties accountable, and implementing measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future. The safety of workers must be paramount, and companies must prioritize safety over profits to ensure that every worker returns home safely at the end of each day.