On October 8, 2021, Kamil Grygieniec, 23, an employee of MHS Countryside Management Limited, was killed while operating a ride-on lawnmower near a village pond in North Stainley, Ripon. The mower descended a steep incline and ended up in the pond.
Analysis:
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found critical safety failures by the company:
Lack of Site-Specific Risk Assessment: No suitable risk assessment was carried out for the work, particularly considering the slopes and proximity to water.
Removal of Safety Feature: The safety-critical roll-over protection system (ROPS), designed to protect operators if the machine overturned, had been removed from the lawnmower.
These failures directly contributed to the tragic and preventable death of the employee. MHS Countryside Management Limited pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 and was fined £27,000, plus ordered to pay £11,166 in costs, at York Magistrates’ Court on February 17, 2026. The incident highlights the vital importance of comprehensive risk assessments and ensuring that all safety features on machinery remain functional and are never removed.
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