Minnesota Company Fined $730K After Worker Drowns Removing Lake Weed

The Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry’s (DLI’s) Minnesota OSHA (MNOSHA) Compliance announced it has has issued a $730,000 penalty to Your Lake Aquatic Plant Management, LLC, in Columbia Heights, Minnesota, for commercial diving standard violations after a worker drowned in May 2024 performing aquatic weed removal while using scuba diving equipment.

In November 2024, MNOSHA Compliance issued five willful violations of the commercial diving operations standard, 29 CFR sections 1910.401-.440. The investigation found: employees did not have the experience or training necessary to perform work safely; employees were not trained in CPR and first aid; an employee was not designated to be in charge of all aspects of the diving operation; a safe-practices manual had not been developed or maintained; and a standby diver was not available while diving operations took place.

Your Lake Aquatic Plant Management has filed a Notice of Contest.

This is the second Minnesota worker drowning since June 2022 that involved employees using scuba diving equipment while performing aquatic weed removal in a lake.

The process of aquatic weed removal includes hazards such as: physical exertion from pulling, hauling and carrying weeds and bundles; highly variable water conditions, including fluctuating temperatures, visibility, depths and currents; and exposures to adjacent structures and equipment, including docks, dams and boat traffic, plus marine life and vegetation.

Source: DLI