News of the July 30 contractor fatality at the Sabine Pass Liquefaction plant in Cameron Parish reminds us what is at stake. South Louisiana runs on LNG facilities, refineries, fabrication yards, and the people who keep them operating. When something goes wrong, it is the worker’s family that carries the loss home. Reuters coverage of the Sabine Pass incident reported the death of a contract worker; the worker had not been publicly identified in that report.
I have practiced law from 306 Grinage Street in Houma for more than thirty years. I know the pride in this work and how quickly a serious injury or death leaves unanswered questions. At Kopfler & Hermann, we help families and injured workers understand the legal paths available while facts are still being gathered.
A major industrial incident is rarely a simple one-employer situation. A plant operator may hire a maintenance contractor, which may use its own subcontractors, equipment suppliers, and specialty crews. Each company can have separate responsibilities for training, procedures, equipment, permits, and the work area. Sorting out who controlled what requires careful work, not assumptions.
There may also be a federal safety investigation. OSHA workplace-fatality investigations can take up to six months to complete, and an investigation is not the same as a civil case. Its findings can be important, but a family should not wait for a final report before protecting its own rights. OSHA’s work does not decide every question about fault, damages, or the parties who may be responsible in a civil claim.
The law that applies can be as important as the facts. Depending on the job, a claim may involve the Longshore Act, the Jones Act, Louisiana workers’ compensation, or a Louisiana tort claim against a third party. A defective valve, lifting device, scaffold, protective system, or other product can raise a claim against an equipment maker. A separate contractor may also face responsibility if negligence is established. The path depends on the worker’s duties, location, employer relationships, and the work being done.
The first days are painful and confusing, but they are also when evidence can disappear. If possible, preserve what you have: photographs of the scene or equipment, texts, work schedules, safety meeting records, personal notes, and the names and contact information of witnesses. Keep copies of incident reports, training records, job-safety analyses, permits, and any written communication from the employer or insurer.
We can promptly ask the employer, plant owner, and other relevant companies to preserve the accident scene and all electronic records. That may include video, access logs, maintenance and inspection histories, phone communications, work orders, digital photographs, equipment data, and reports made after the incident. A preservation request does not decide who is at fault; it helps ensure the facts can be evaluated fairly.
For a serious injury, follow medical advice and maintain medical records, bills, and documentation of time missed from work. For a fatal case, retain funeral and burial records and documents showing the family’s relationship to the worker. Be very careful before giving a recorded statement, signing a release, or accepting an explanation from a company representative or insurance adjuster. Be respectful and cooperative without guessing about what happened or signing away rights before you have advice.
The Longshore & Harbor Workers’ Compensation Act, often called the LHWCA or Longshore Act, may cover land-based maritime workers, including many dockworkers and some LNG-terminal workers whose duties and work site meet the federal tests. It is generally a no-fault compensation system. Benefits can be available without proving negligence, but they are structured by statute and do not provide the same recovery as a full tort case. Whether coverage applies is a fact-specific question.
The Jones Act, 46 U.S.C. § 30104, applies to true seamen. As a practical guide, courts often look for a worker who has a substantial connection to a vessel or fleet of vessels in navigation; spending roughly 30 percent or more of work time aboard can be an important benchmark, but it is not an automatic rule. A Jones Act case has different rights and deadlines. Our Houma maritime injury lawyer page explains more about the maritime side of these cases.
Louisiana wrongful-death claims under Louisiana Civil Code Article 2315.2 can be brought against a responsible third party, not ordinarily the worker’s direct employer when workers’ compensation exclusivity applies. Deadlines require close attention. The current statute measures prescription as one year from death or two years from the date injury or damage is sustained, whichever is longer; older materials may refer only to the former one-year period. Federal claims have their own deadlines. The point for a family is simple: do not delay while you are waiting for answers.
Our approach is methodical. We work to understand the job, contracts, plant-services subcontracting stack, equipment, and records created before and after the incident. When the case calls for it, we coordinate with independent investigators and qualified experts. We also pursue available OSHA records and follow the public investigation without treating it as the final word.
Decades in Houma have taught me that industrial cases are about people as much as paperwork. We take time to explain the choices in plain language, identify the law that may apply, and prepare a case based on evidence. If you need help after a serious industrial injury, our Houma personal injury representation page is another place to begin.
Consultations at Kopfler & Hermann are free and confidential. If your family has lost someone, or if you were seriously injured at an LNG plant, refinery, yard, or other industrial site, call (985) 851-3311 or contact us. Our office is at 306 Grinage Street in Houma, and we will listen carefully before advising you about the next step.
