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The Minnesota Department of Transportation
has paid a $30,000 penalty for serious safety violations in the
death of a worker clearing floodwaters last spring.


      Thirty-nine-year-old Michael Struck, of Cleveland, Minn., died
March 22 when he was swept away as he used a backhoe to clear
debris from culverts along Highway 169 near St. Peter. The tractor
slid into a creek and the current pulled him through a culvert. His
body was found the next day.

The Free Press of Mankato reported Friday

 that the state's Occupational Safety and Health Division determined
that MnDOT failed to ensure the backhoe was safely positioned and
failed to ensure Struck was wearing a life jacket while working
next to floodwaters.


      MnDOT says it has changed its practices to ensure it doesn't
happen again.

Gallery

Body of missing backhoe operator found

MnDOT IDs worker whose backhoe was swept away

Disasters

The Minnesota Department of Transportation
has paid a $30,000 penalty for serious safety violations in the
death of a worker clearing floodwaters last spring.


MnDOT pays $30,000 penalty in worker's death

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