Eastern Irrigation District fined $365,000 for employee’s death in October 2022

The Eastern Irrigation District has been fined $365,000 after an investigation into the death of an employee.

In October 2022, a diver was completing underwater repair work on the Lake Newell and Rolling Hills reservoir gates when the 55-year-old Brooks resident suffered fatal injuries during the dive.

Eastern Irrigation District fined for employee death The Eastern Irrigation District has been fined $365,000 following an investigation into the death of an employee in an October 2022 incident.

Alberta Occupational Health and Safety initially filed 10 charges against the Brooks-based water management agency.

The irrigation district pleaded guilty to one count of failing to ensure an intake mechanism was locked out before a dive began.

The Crown withdrew the other nine charges.

The irrigation district was ordered to pay $300,000 to the Central Alberta Rescue Diving Society for equipment and training and $65,000 to the Alberta Underwater Council for a safety campaign directed toward divers and employers.