United States v. Northridge Construction Corp., et al.

On August 6, 2024, a court sentenced Northridge Construction Corporation to pay a $100,000 fine and complete a five-year term of probation. The company pleaded guilty to violating the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA) causing the death of a company employee (29 U.S.C. § 666(e)). Supervisor Richard Zagger pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of official proceedings (18 U.S.C. §§ 371, 1505). Zagger is scheduled for sentencing on October 16, 2024.

In 2018, a Northridge employee died after falling from an improperly secured roof during the construction of a shed. Zagger oversaw the project as Northridge employees built a metal shed on the Northridge property. During the construction, one of the employees fell from the improperly secured roof and died from his injuries.

OSHA regulations require companies and employers to maintain the stability of a metal structure during construction. Northridge pleaded guilty to violating this worker safety standard and to making two false statements that obstructed OSHA’s investigation into the employee’s death.

The Occupational Safety and Health Administration conducted the investigation.