Eastern Irrigation District has been penalized in connection to the death of a Brooks diver in 2022.
On Feb. 19 the employer pleaded guilty to one count under the Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Code for failing to ensure an intake mechanism was locked out before a dive began.
According to the provincial government, the diver was completing work at the Lake Newell and Rolling Hills Reservoirs when they suffered injuries that led to their death.
"Alberta’s OHS laws set basic health and safety rules for workplaces across the province," wrote the Alberta government in a news release. "They provide guidance for employers to help them ensure their workplaces are as healthy and safe as possible while providing rights and protections for workers."
The employer was ordered to pay a total of $365,000. The province says $300,000 will go towards the Central Alberta Rescue Diving Society for equipment and training, while the remaining $65,000 will go towards the Alberta Underwater Council for a safety campaign.
The irrigation district has one month to appeal the conviction and penalties.
The province also claims that the Crown withdrew nine other charges under OHS legislation.