Construction supervisor receives sentence for attempting to cover up worksite death in Long Island.
A former construction supervisor on Long Island has been sentenced to one year in prison for his role in obstructing a federal investigation into a fatal construction accident, according to an announcement by federal prosecutors on Wednesday. Richard Zagger, who previously worked for Northridge Construction Corporation in East Patchogue, played a supervisory role in the assembly of a metal shed on the company’s premises.
The incident that led to Zagger’s conviction occurred in December 2018 when an employee fell from an improperly secured roof and subsequently died. Following the accident, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) conducted an investigation that uncovered numerous violations of worker safety regulations. Key findings from the investigation revealed a failure to ensure the structural stability of the metal shed during its construction, a critical aspect of safeguarding worker safety on-site.
Prosecutors revealed that Zagger engaged in false statements and conspired with others to obscure his involvement in the incident. A pivotal development in the case occurred in July 2024 when Zagger pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and three counts of obstruction of justice, cementing his culpability in the efforts to mislead federal investigators.
On Tuesday, Zagger was formally sentenced to one year in prison, followed by two years of supervised release, as mandated by the court. He is expected to serve his time in a federal facility. This sentence underscores the legal implications of neglecting safety protocols in the construction industry and the seriousness of obstructing federal investigations.
In a related matter, early last year, Northridge Construction Corporation itself pleaded guilty to violations of worker safety standards that contributed to the employee’s death. The company admitted to providing false statements during the investigation, leading to a civil penalty of 0,000 and a five-year probation period.
This case emphasizes the importance of compliance with safety regulations in the construction sector, as well as the potential consequences for those who fail to uphold these standards or attempt to conceal their failures. As construction companies continue to face scrutiny over their safety practices, the legal ramifications of neglect and obstruction are becoming increasingly significant in maintaining the welfare of workers across the industry.
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