Undefeated Houston Work Injury Lawyers
Zehl & Associates is honored to represent the families of two workers tragically killed and one worker seriously injured in the fatal Bechtel Port Arthur LNG scaffolding collapse.
Our undefeated work injury lawyers, led by founder and managing partner Ryan Zehl, confirmed the firm has filed suit on behalf of the victims, seeking answers and full accountability for the preventable industrial failure.
Fatal Scaffolding Collapse at Port Arthur LNG Killed 3 Workers and Injured 2 Others
The deadly scaffolding collapse occurred around 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 29, 2026, at the Port Arthur LNG construction site on South Gulfway Drive in the Sabine Pass area. A five-person crew was performing tank work at elevation when the platform they were standing on gave way.
Two workers, Felix Lopez and Felipe Mendez, tragically fell to their deaths. A third worker, Reginald Magee, survived but later succumbed to his injuries.
Two additional workers were also hospitalized with injuries sustained in the collapse.
Early Findings Point to Preventable Safety Failures
While the investigation remains ongoing by OSHA and other authorities, early findings have identified multiple potential contributing factors.
Bechtel, which served as the construction contractor at the Port Arthur LNG project site — a large-scale natural gas liquefaction and export terminal being developed by Sempra Infrastructure in partnership with ConocoPhillips — has released its own internal report examining the incident.
According to its findings, the crew was working at elevation performing a standard LNG tank construction procedure known as “formwork jumping.” The process involves lifting a multi-level formwork system — including the working platform — resetting it at a higher elevation on the tank structure, and continuing reinforcement and concrete placement for the next section of the wall.
The crew had successfully completed multiple jumps during the shift and was setting the final section at the time of the collapse.
Bechtel identify the following contributing factors:
- an improperly secured bracket connection
- high-risk elevated work performed during a night shift
- inadequate fall protection use
- inadequate training and inexperience
- breakdowns in required mentorship and supervision protocols
These conditions, taken together, raise serious questions about whether basic safety systems designed to protect workers on high-risk industrial projects were properly followed or enforced..
How Zehl & Associates Helps Families in Search of Answers and Accountability
Zehl & Associates is proud to represent the families of Mr. Lopez and Mr. Mendez, as well as one of the surviving injured workers, in their pursuit of justice following this devastating incident.
As OSHA and investigators continue to examine what went wrong, our team of lawyers, accident reconstruction experts, engineers, and forensic specialists is conducting an independent investigation into the collapse and the corporate decisions that may have contributed to it.
When safety systems fail at industrial worksites, families deserve answers — and full accountability— from every responsible party involved in causing their loved ones harm.
We are devoting whatever time and resources are needed to ensuring that preventable disasters like this one don’t occur again and our clients and their families receive the answers and justice they deserve.
Undefeated Houston Industrial Accident Lawyers: 1-888-603-3636 for Free Consultation
With Billions won for accident victims, our firm has a proven track record of success in connection with some of the largest refinery, oilfield, and industrial accidents in history, including the #1 Largest Burn Injury Settlement in History, a $100 Million Settlement on behalf of a group of workers injured in a refinery explosion and an $85 Million Settlement for injured refinery contractors.
For more information, visit our results page or click here to see what our clients have said about their experience with the firm.
If you or a loved one were injured in a workplace accident, call 1-888-603-3636, or send us a confidential email through our Contact Us form.