Long Island Construction Company Pleads Guilty to Worker Safety Violation Causing Death of an Employee

Northridge Construction Corporation pleaded guilty to criminal charges today in federal court in Central Islip, New York. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for April 3.

The three-count information alleges that, in 2018, during the construction of a shed on Northridge’s property in East Patchogue, New York, one of its employees fell from an improperly secured roof and died. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigated the employee’s death.

Among other worker safety standards, OSHA regulations require always maintaining the stability of a metal structure during construction. Northridge pleaded guilty to violating this worker safety standard which caused the death of one of its employees and to making two false statements that obstructed the federal agency’s inquiry into the employee’s death. 

The maximum penalty for each of the criminal offenses is five years’ probation and a $500,000 fine, or twice the economic gain to the defendant or loss suffered by the victim because of the crime.

Assistant Attorney General Todd Kim of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD) made the announcement.

Senior Trial Attorneys Daniel Dooher and Richard J. Powers and Trial Attorney Rachel Roberts of ENRD’s Environmental Crimes Section are prosecuting the case.