A Nottinghamshire council has been fined £50,000 after a workplace accident left a grounds maintenance worker with serious injuries at a churchyard.
The incident occurred on May 30, 2024 when the Bassetlaw District Council employee was cutting grass at St Peter and St Paul’s Church in the village of North Wheatley.
The worker was operating a ride-on lawnmower when the machine slid down a steep embankment towards a retaining wall, causing both the operative and equipment to tumble approximately 2.3 metres onto the pavement and road beneath.
Nottingham Magistrates’ Court heard the case on Monday, where the Labour-controlled authority entered early guilty pleas to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.
The employee sustained injuries including cracked ribs after plummeting from the churchyard boundary onto Church Hill below.
The graveyard, which is no longer in active use, was being maintained as part of the council’s routine grounds keeping duties when the accident took place.
According to the Health and Safety Executive investigation, the ride-on mower became uncontrollable as it descended an extremely steep slope within the burial ground.
Both the machinery and its operator went over the edge of the wall, landing on the public footpath and carriageway at the junction of Church Hill and Church Street.
The mower plummeted down the bank
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HSE
The worker has since returned to their role at the council, which confirmed it continues to provide ongoing support following the traumatic incident.
The HSE investigation uncovered multiple serious shortcomings in the council’s safety procedures.
Inspectors determined that Bassetlaw District Council had failed to conduct an adequate risk assessment for staff using ride-on mowers on sloped terrain.
Furthermore, the authority had not given workers proper instruction or training about operating such equipment near banks and inclines.
The lawnmower fell down the side of the churchyard
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HSE
No protective measures existed at the retaining wall to guard against falls that could result in injury.
Industry guidance from the British Association of Landscape Industries clearly outlines the precautions employers must implement when staff work on or near slopes.
The presiding judge concluded that the council had fallen significantly below these established standards, deeming the authority highly culpable for its failures.
Alongside the fine, the court imposed costs of £5,138.85 and a £2,000 victim surcharge.
The council has been fined thousands for the incident
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HSE
HSE Inspector Muir Finlay said: “This was a serious incident which could have been much worse.
“The fine imposed on the District Council should underline to all employers that work on banks and slopes should only be undertaken when a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks has been carried out and appropriate controls or training provided.
“HSE will not hesitate to take action against those that do not do all that they should to keep people safe and healthy at work.”
David Armiger, the council’s chief executive, stated that the authority had cooperated fully with investigators and adopted all recommended changes.
He confirmed that Bassetlaw District Council is committing £350,000 to health and safety training over the coming years and has restructured its safety team, including establishing new positions.
