Federal safety regulators have launched an investigation after a construction worker suffered severe injuries at SpaceX’s Starbase facility in South Texas last November. This incident adds to mounting concerns about worker safety at Elon Musk’s rapidly expanding rocket development site.
Eduardo Cavazos, a subcontractor working on concrete wall construction, was crushed when a metal support detached from a crane and fell on him, resulting in a broken hip, knee, and tibia, along with additional injuries to his neck, head, shoulders, back, and legs. The accident has prompted both an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigation and a previously undisclosed lawsuit against SpaceX and contractor CCC Group.
Details of the November Accident and Resulting Legal Action
According to court documents filed in November, Cavazos was working as part of a CCC Group team constructing concrete walls at Starbase when the incident occurred on November 15. A crane operator was lifting a vertical formwork—equipment used to hold wet concrete in place—when one of the metal supports broke free and struck Cavazos.
The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of both SpaceX and CCC Group, claiming they failed to verify proper attachment of the metal support and did not adequately warn workers about potential hazards. Cavazos is seeking unspecified damages and will likely require extensive rehabilitation, including