Fatal Contractor Incident at Golden Pass LNG, Port Arthur, Texas

Basic Incident Information

• Date of incident: Sunday, 3 August 2025 (approximate, based on report timing)

• Time of incident: About 3:30 p.m. (time of death as reported)

• Location: Golden Pass LNG facility, near Port Arthur, Jefferson County, Texas, USA

• Company/parties involved:

  • Site: Golden Pass LNG

  • Employer of deceased: McDermott (contracting firm)

• Type of incident: Fatal industrial accident (specific mechanism not yet disclosed)

Incident Description

On Sunday afternoon, 3 August 2025, a contract worker was involved in an industrial accident at the Golden Pass LNG facility near Port Arthur, Texas. The worker, identified as 50‑year‑old Pedro Campbell Romero of Odessa, was pronounced dead at about 3:30 p.m., according to Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. Romero was employed by the contractor McDermott, which is working at the Golden Pass LNG project.

Details regarding how the incident occurred, the specific task being performed, and the exact location within the facility have not been released. Both the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) have opened investigations into the incident.

Emergency Response and Investigation

• Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office responded and is conducting an investigation into the circumstances of the fatality.

• Justice of the Peace Ben Collins Sr. ordered an autopsy to determine the precise cause of death.

• OSHA has confirmed that it has an open and ongoing investigation into the incident and has stated that no further information will be available until the investigation is completed.

• Media outreach to both Golden Pass LNG and McDermott for comment had not received a response at the time of the report.

Context and Related Incidents

• The report notes that in April 2025, three contract workers died in a separate industrial accident at the nearby Port Arthur LNG project, highlighting ongoing serious risk exposure for contract workforces in the local LNG megaprojects.

Preliminary Learnings and Safety Focus

Because no technical details of this specific incident have been released, learnings must be framed at a high level and focused on contractor safety in major energy and LNG construction/operations:

• Major LNG construction and operations involve high‑hazard activities (heavy lifting, confined spaces, work at height, hot work, high‑pressure systems) that require robust contractor management, permit‑to‑work systems, and task‑specific risk assessments.

• Owner and EPC/contractor organizations must ensure that contractors are fully integrated into site safety management systems, including training, supervision, and adherence to life‑saving rules.

• Previous serious and fatal incidents in the same regional LNG projects underline the importance of learning transfer, trend analysis, and proactive intervention to address recurring risk patterns affecting contract workers.

• Transparent investigation outcomes and dissemination of lessons learned across all project partners are critical to prevent recurrence of serious contractor fatalities.

Status

• Fatalities: 1 contractor (Pedro Campbell Romero, 50) confirmed dead.

• Injuries: No additional injuries reported in the source.

• Legal/regulatory: OSHA investigation ongoing; autopsy ordered; further details pending completion of investigations.