New York construction faces penalties after worker dies

• Northridge Construction Corp. pleaded guilty to criminal charges 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. OSHA investigated the employee’s death.
• 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.
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New Jersey worker crushed at auto parts store

• OSHA is investigating after a man was crushed to death while working at Fenix Parts Rahway in Woodbridge, New Jersey.
• The 38-year-old worker at around 5:30 a.m. was crushed by a loading ramp inside the store, according to police.
• The store was cited for three serious violations because of inadequate respiratory protection for workers which included not having a written respiratory program, failing to provide medical evaluations and necessary training for respirator use.
• Fenix Parts, the parent company of Fenix Parts Rahway, is a recycler and reseller of automotive parts and has 22 stores around the country. The OSHA investigation could take up to six months.
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Investigation into firefighter’s death completed

• Safety officials completed the investigation into the death of a 26-year-old Burlington, Connecticut, firefighter who suffered a medical emergency while fighting a fire in New Hartford in 2021.
• Colin McFadden suffered a medical emergency while fighting a fire at the historic New Hartford House and he was later rushed to John Dempsey Hospital where he underwent emergency surgery.
• Fire officials had said that doctors discovered McFadden had an undiagnosed form of leukemia.
• A report from NIOSH confirmed that McFadden died from complications from “right heart failure” due to acute promyelocytic leukemia.
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Massachusetts revokes construction supervisor’s license

• The Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards revoked William Trahant’s construction supervisor’s license for at least two years as the result of a complaint filed by OSHA.
• The agency issued seven separate citations to his company since 2014 for violating federal fall safety regulations, as well as his continued failure to pay more than $300,000 in related penalties.
• The department’s Regional Solicitor’s Office and Occupational Safety and Health Administration in Boston presented evidence against Trahant, the owner of William Trahant Jr. Construction Inc., before the board’s hearing officer and obtained a favorable decision, which revoked his license.
• The hearing officer ordered Trahant to return his license and cease any work on active building permits he holds until a successor license holder is substituted or Trahant regains his license.
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