News

OSHA probing worker death at SpaceX’s Starbase site

Published

6 months ago

May 18, 2026

A worker died at SpaceX’s Starbase launch site in South Texas on Friday, and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) has opened an investigation.

The San Antonio Express-News reported Monday that the unidentified victim died at around 4:17 a.m. local time on May 15, citing OSHA and local officials. The Wall Street Journal later reported that the county sheriff confirmed to the outlet that a worker died. OSHA confirmed to TechCrunch that it is investigating the apparent accident.

Representatives for the nearby Brownsville police and fire departments did not respond to requests for comment. SpaceX and the newly-incorporated City of Starbase did not respond to requests for comment.

The circumstances of the worker’s death are not immediately clear. OSHA told TechCrunch that it won’t release more information until its investigation is complete, which could take months.

The death comes just a few days ahead of the first planned launch of SpaceX’s upgraded Starship rocket. Elon Musk’s spaceflight company is also reportedly releasing the detailed prospectus for its initial public offering this week, which is expected to be the biggest ever when that transaction takes place next month.

SpaceX has long dealt with worker safety problems at its Starbase site, which handles Starship prototype launches and is an active construction zone.

In 2025, TechCrunch analyzed OSHA data and determined the Texas launch site had an injury rate that far outpaced those of industry rivals, and was the most dangerous of SpaceX’s worksites. A 2023 Reuters investigation uncovered dozens of previously-unreported injuries and a worker death in 2014 at SpaceX’s McGregor, Texas test site.

In January, OSHA hit SpaceX with seven “serious” safety violations for, among other things, not properly inspecting a crane before it collapsed at Starbase last June. The safety agency dealt SpaceX the maximum financial penalty on six of those seven violations, totaling $115,850. SpaceX is contesting those penalties, federal records show.

The company has been hit with multiple lawsuits related to injuries sustained at Starbase in recent years. In December, an employee of one of SpaceX’s subcontractors sued after he was crushed by a large metal support dropped from a crane. The worker, Eduardo Cavazos, suffered a broken hip, knee, and tibia, and OSHA opened a “rapid response investigation,” as TechCrunch first reported in December.

OSHA has since closed that rapid response investigation without taking any punitive action, according to a TechCrunch public records request. And the lawsuit was recently dropped because his employee, the subcontractor, has workers compensation insurance that prevents it from being sued, according to Cavazos’ attorney.

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Related Topics:death OSHA probing site SpaceXs Starbase worker

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“President Tinubu Is Restoring Confidence in Nigerian Sports” — SSA Adeboye Hails Fulfilment of Super Falcons’ Reward Promise

Published

6 minutes ago

November 3, 2026

PlateauReports

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Grassroots Sports Development, Hon. Adeyinka Anthony Adeboye, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for fulfilling his financial commitments to Nigeria’s Super Falcons, describing the development as another demonstration of his administration’s determination to reward sporting excellence and restore confidence among Nigerian athletes.

Adeboye said the payment of the naira equivalent of $100,000 to each Super Falcons player and $50,000 to coaches and officials, following their historic 10th Women’s Africa Cup of Nations triumph in Morocco, reinforces the President’s commitment to recognising those who bring honour to the country.

“President Tinubu is demonstrating that the sacrifices of our sporting heroes must never be taken for granted. By fulfilling his promise to the Super Falcons, he is sending a powerful message that excellence, dedication and patriotism deserve genuine recognition,” Adeboye stated.

The Presidential aide noted that the development follows similar rewards for Nigeria’s women’s basketball team, D’Tigress, whose players also received their promised financial benefits after winning a fifth consecutive Women’s AfroBasket title.

He further highlighted the President’s decision to restore the National Sports Commission, describing it as a major institutional reform aimed at improving sports administration, athlete welfare and long-term development.

“Beyond financial rewards, Mr President has shown commitment through institutional reforms and deliberate efforts to reposition sports as an instrument of national development, youth empowerment and economic opportunity,” he added.

Adeboye particularly praised the administration’s recognition of female athletes, noting that the achievements of the Super Falcons and D’Tigress have inspired millions of young Nigerian girls.

He stressed that these developments must be complemented by sustained investment in grassroots sports, where future national champions are discovered and nurtured.

According to him, the forthcoming National Grassroots Sports Development Summit, scheduled for November 18–19, 2026, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, will provide an opportunity to strengthen the foundation of Nigeria’s sporting future.

“When our young athletes see that their country celebrates and rewards excellence, they are encouraged to dream bigger. Our responsibility is to ensure that talented children across all 774 local government areas have opportunities to develop and succeed,” Adeboye said.

He commended the leadership of the National Sports Commission, headed by Chairman Mallam Shehu Dikko and Director-General Hon. Bukola Olopade, for their efforts in implementing the administration’s sports development agenda.

Adeboye reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the President’s Renewed Hope vision through sustainable grassroots sports programmes and strategic partnerships.

Business

SMEs Celebrate Business Growth, Increased Visibility at Leadway Lifestyle Fair 2026

Published

46 minutes ago

November 3, 2026

PlateauReports

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have commended Leadway Group, one of Nigeria’s foremost non-bank financial services providers, for connecting them with new customers, boosting their visibility, and driving sales at the recently concluded Leadway Lifestyle Fair 2026.

The second edition of the fair, themed “For the Love of the NaijaLifestyle”, ended on Sunday, 25 October, bringing together 100 businesses alongside consumers, lifestyle enthusiasts, content creators and celebrities. Throughout the event, vendors reported a steady flow of visitors to their booths, with many recording sales, meeting new customers and growing their social media following.

For some exhibitors, it was their first exhibition showcase, and the results exceeded their expectations, as shown by the sales they made, the new customers they met and the visibility they gained from taking part in the fair.

Speaking on the initiative, Niyi Abiola, Head, Corporate Services, Leadway Group, said the fair was created to give small businesses a platform to showcase their products and connect with consumers.

“Lifestyle is an important part of how people live, connect and engage with the world around them. With the Leadway Lifestyle Fair, we wanted to create more room for businesses to showcase what they do and reach more people. Having grown from about 25 vendors in our first edition to 100 this year, we are encouraged by the response and look forward to making the experience even bigger in the years ahead,” Abiola said.

Olusakin Labeodan, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Leadway PFA speaking on behalf of Leadway Group, said the fair reflects the Group’s wider approach to building relationships with its customers beyond the financial solutions it provides.

“The growth of the fair from its first edition to this year’s event shows the value of creating platforms that bring businesses and consumers together. At Leadway, our relationship with customers goes beyond the financial solutions we offer across insurance, pensions, wealth management, trusteeship, health and hospitality. We also recognise the importance of being part of their everyday experiences, and lifestyle is a significant part of that,” Labeodan said.

With the number of participating businesses growing fourfold in a year, the Leadway Lifestyle Fair has quickly become a meeting point for Nigerian entrepreneurs and the consumers they serve. LeadwayGroup said it will continue to expand the platform in future editions, allowing more small businesses to reach new customers, grow their brands and celebrate the creativity that defines the Naija lifestyle.

About the Leadway Group

The Leadway Group is a diversified financial services ecosystem offering comprehensive retail and corporate non-banking financial solutions. Spearheaded by its non-operating holding entity, the Group provides a unified portfolio of cross-functional services through its market-leading associate companies: general and life insurance (Leadway Assurance), pension fund administration (Leadway PFA), corporate trusteeship and estate planning (Leadway Capital & Trusts), investment portfolio advisory (Leadway Asset Management), and health management (Leadway Health). Driven by discipline and continuous innovation, Leadway Group is committed to securing future financial freedom and health outcomes for millions of customers across West Africa.