TULALIP — The Battle Creek Golf Course has been assessed a $3,000 penalty for safety issues after a worker died in a lawn-mower accident in March.

The golf course is appealing the finding, the state Department of Labor and Industries says.

James Pulliam, 58, died March 14 when the riding lawnmower he was using flipped over on top of him. He was on the grounds crew.

The accident happened near the 13th hole, a Snohomish County sheriff’s report says.

The course did not provide sufficient training for workers using heavy equipment, an L&I report says. That was considered a serious violation, with a $1,800 penalty.

In addition, the course had no written accident prevention program for grounds maintenance equipment, the report says. That also was considered a serious violation and carried a $1,200 penalty.

In August, the agency ordered the golf course to address those shortcomings.

The golf course has asked the state to suspend the order to make changes until after the appeal, an L&I spokesman said. A regional hearing officer is expected to decide the case by early October.