Broken Bones, Lawsuits, and NDAs: Inside the Worker Safety Concerns at Stargate Data Center
A TIME investigation uncovers significant worker safety concerns at the Stargate data centers in Abilene, Texas, involving multiple injuries, alleged negligence, and a worker fatality. Several contractors, including Kiewit, MMR Group, and DPR Construction, are facing lawsuits and OSHA investigations related to the conditions at the site. Workers report unusually lax safety practices, understaffing, and a culture of rushing to meet aggressive construction timelines for the AI infrastructure project.
A TIME investigation revealed severe worker safety issues at the Stargate data centers in Abilene, Texas, the flagship site of a $500 billion AI infrastructure project.
Truck driver Daniel Gonzalez is suing contractors Kiewit Corporation and MMR Group, alleging negligence after he suffered a concussion due to a falling chain. The investigation, drawing on government reports, court documents, and worker interviews, found multiple other incidents, including three separate leg fractures in 2025 reported to OSHA, and numerous 911 calls from the site for injuries and medical emergencies, including a worker's death. Another lawsuit was filed against DPR Construction by a concrete delivery driver, Angelica Hernandez, for injuries sustained on-site. Workers, speaking anonymously due to non-disclosure agreements, described lax safety practices, insufficient handwashing stations, and a lack of cold drinking water during the hot Texas summer.
OSHA investigated several incidents, issuing penalties to DPR Construction and Ruiz-Boyter Construction & Supplies, though some citations were later withdrawn or reduced. Oracle, a key partner in the project, claimed the site was