Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez recently announced the indictment of Redcode Inc., a construction training company with locations in Brooklyn and Queens, along with its owner and an associate. Prosecutors allege the company sold counterfeit OSHA and New York City Department of Buildings (DOB) safety cards to construction workers who never actually completed the required training — reportedly charging around $500 per card and having workers sign fake attendance sheets to make it look like they’d sat through the coursework.
This isn’t an isolated case. Brooklyn prosecutors have brought similar charges against other local training companies in recent years, including one owner who was sentenced to jail time for the same type of scheme. It’s a pattern worth paying attention to if you work — or have a loved one who works — on a New York City construction site.
Why This Matters Beyond the Criminal Case
Site Safety Training (SST) and OSHA cards aren’t just paperwork. They’re supposed to certify that a worker has been trained to recognize hazards: how to work safely at heights, around heavy equipment, in trenches, and in other high-risk conditions common on construction sites. When those certifications are faked, workers are sent onto job sites without the training the law requires — and without the practical knowledge that training is meant to provide.
That gap can directly contribute to the kinds of accidents we see far too often on Staten Island and Brooklyn job sites: falls from scaffolding, being struck by falling objects, equipment accidents, and trench collapses.
Fraudulent OSHA Card Lawyer NYC: Injured on a Site Tied to a Fraudulent Safety Program
If you’ve been hurt on a construction site and later learn that your safety training certification was fraudulent — or that your employer or a labor broker used a company like the one described above — it’s important to understand that this does not affect your right to workers’ compensation benefits in New York.
New York’s workers’ compensation system is a no-fault system. You’re generally entitled to benefits for a workplace injury regardless of who was at fault, including situations where your employer or a training vendor cut corners. A few things injured workers in this situation should keep in mind:
- Report the injury promptly. New York law requires written notice to your employer within 30 days of an accident, and claims generally must be filed with the Workers’ Compensation Board within two years.
- Get a C-3 form filed. This is the formal claim form that starts the workers’ compensation process with the Board.
- A fraudulent safety card doesn’t disqualify your claim. Some workers worry that if their own certification wasn’t legitimate, it will be held against them. In most cases, the fault lies with the company that issued the fake credentials — not with the worker who was told (and had every reason to believe) the training was real.
- There may be a separate claim beyond workers’ comp. If a general contractor, site owner, or third party (not your direct employer) contributed to unsafe conditions — for example, by knowingly using workers with fraudulent safety certifications — you may have an additional claim under New York Labor Law Sections 200, 240, or 241(6), separate from your workers’ compensation benefits.
Consult a Lawyer Who Knows NYC Construction Sites
Cases involving falsified safety training add a layer of complexity to what might otherwise be a straightforward workers’ compensation claim. Understanding the options can ease stress during a difficult time, and our office provides clear guidance tailored to workers’ compensation and safety-compliance concerns.
If you or someone you love was hurt on a job site and you have questions about a fraudulent safety card, an uncooperative employer, or a denied claim, our office can help you sort out what benefits and legal options are available.
The Law Offices of Frank J. Dito, Jr. represents injured construction workers throughout Staten Island and Brooklyn in workers’ compensation and personal injury matters. Contact us today at 718.701.2776 for a free consultation.
