Summary
Bassetlaw District Council has been fined £50,000 following an incident in which an employee was seriously injured while operating a ride-on lawnmower. The worker was performing routine maintenance at St Peter & St Paul’s Church in North Wheatley when the machine slid down a steep bank and fell 2.3 metres over a retaining wall onto a public pavement and road. The employee sustained injuries including cracked ribs. An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that the council failed to conduct a suitable risk assessment for operating machinery on slopes, provided inadequate training, and lacked physical safety measures to prevent falls at the retaining wall.
Analysis
The court’s decision to label the council as “highly culpable” stems from its failure to adhere to established industry standards, specifically the guidance published by the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI). This case reinforces that health and safety obligations are not merely administrative; they require practical application of risk controls, such as physical barriers or restricted zones for heavy machinery. The incident was entirely preventable had the council prioritised standard safety protocols for hazardous terrain. By falling “far short” of expected standards, the council faced a significant financial penalty totalling over £57,000 (including costs and surcharges), serving as a reminder to public organisations that they are held to the same rigorous safety requirements as private sector employers.
Article Link: District Council fined £50,000 after worker seriously injured in lawnmower incident – HSE Media Centre