A Nottinghamshire district council has been fined £50,000 following a serious incident in which a ride-on mower overturned at a churchyard, causing a male employee to fall more than two metres onto a public road and footpath below.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated the incident at St Peter & St Paul’s Church in North Wheatley, Nottinghamshire, where an employee of Bassetlaw District Council was carrying out routine maintenance in the closed graveyard.
While operating a ride-on mower, the employee lost control of the machine as it slid down a steep bank towards a retaining wall. Both the machine and the operative rolled over the wall, falling approximately 2.3 metres to the pavement and road below. The employee sustained injuries, including cracked ribs.
The HSE investigation identified a series of significant failings by the council:
Bassetlaw District Council had not carried out a suitable and sufficient assessment of the risks posed to employees by operating ride-on mowers on banks and slopes.
The council had not provided adequate information, instruction, or training to employees regarding the use of such machinery near slopes and banks.
No measures were in place at the retaining wall to prevent a fall from a height liable to cause personal injury.
A Guidance Document for the Landscape Industry (PDF), published by the British Association of Landscape Industries (BALI), sets out clearly the measures employers should take to assess and control risks when working on or near slopes and banks. The judge found that Bassetlaw District Council had failed to meet these industry standards and was therefore highly culpable, having fallen far short of what was expected.
David Armiger, Chief Executive at Bassetlaw District Council said:
“Bassetlaw District Council acknowledges the decision and sentence passed at Nottingham Magistrates Court following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive relating to an accident in May 2024.
“We entered an early guilty plea to both charges and have fully cooperated with the HSE throughout their investigation and implemented all of their recommendations, including a more robust approach to Health and Safety measures, training, and working practices.
“Since the accident and the findings of the HSE investigation, we have considerably improved our approach to the management of risk and have been extremely proactive in implementing new and enhanced ways of working, with an ongoing commitment to investment in further change.
“This includes:
- additional training with a further £350k investment in health and safety training over a three-year period
- additional and more robust compliance
- regular process reviews of existing policies
- a restructure of the Health and Safety Team, including the creation of new roles
“We take our responsibilities very seriously and remain committed to a positive Health and Safety Culture at the council, with awareness and compliance paramount.
“The employee who was involved in this accident returned to work several months ago and we continue to support them.”
Bassetlaw District Council, of Queen’s Buildings, Potter Street, Worksop, Nottinghamshire, S80 2AH, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) and Section 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The council was fined £50,000, ordered to pay £5,138.85 in costs, and a victim surcharge of £2,000 at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 30 March 2026.
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.”
The HSE prosecution was brought by enforcement lawyer Andrew Siddall and paralegal officer Benjamin Stobbart.
