OSHA Investigates Crane Accident at SpaceX Starbase Facility

A construction worker named Eduardo Cavazos was crushed by a large metal support that fell from a crane at SpaceX's Starbase facility in November. The incident occurred while Cavazos was working on constructing concrete walls as a subcontractor for CCC Group.

Cavazos has filed a lawsuit against SpaceX and CCC Group for negligence, claiming that the crane operator was using a cell phone at the time of the accident, and failed to properly secure the metal support.

The 1,200-pound support broke Cavazos' hip, knee, and tibia, along with other injuries to his neck, head, shoulders, back, and legs. OSHA has opened a rapid response investigation into the incident, which is the second crane-related accident at the Starbase facility this year, following a crane collapse in June.

SpaceX reported the incident to OSHA, and the agency is awaiting a response from the company. According to OSHA data, Starbase has a Total Recordable Incident Rate of approximately 4.27 injuries per 100 workers in 2024, significantly higher than SpaceX's other facilities.

SpaceX has also faced scrutiny for failing to report serious injuries within the required timeframe. Cavazos is seeking unspecified damages, alleging that both SpaceX and CCC Group failed to ensure proper safety measures were in place at the construction site.

The facility continues to expand, with a $250 million rocket factory under construction, amid ongoing safety concerns.