The HSE has urged employers using mowing machines to be more careful while making use of ride-on mowers, after an employer was prosecuted recently following an accident involving a ride-on mower.

The victim of the accident was an employee with the Council, who fell from a ride-on mower and sustained multiple fractures along with a compressed lung. The worker had to stay out of work for 11 weeks following the accident.

It was found out that the employers did not conduct a proper risk assessment in context of ride-on mowers and had failed to provide the right machine suited to the height for the slope as per the guidelines provided along with the mower. Despite the happening of similar accidents in the past, the employer did not ensure that the workers were given proper instructions and training on the usage of mowers.

The Council pleaded guilty to the charges of violation of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and Regulation 3(1) (a) of the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 before Cheltenham Magistrates. It has been fined to the tune of £14,000 in addition to £3,000 as compensation payable to the employee, including costs of £18,530.31.

According to HSE inspector Alison Fry, the accident was not only foreseeable but also avoidable. Proper risk assessments are therefore necessary before usage of such equipment. Employers should also ensure that employees are properly trained in handling such tools.

Health and Safety training can be provided by reputable companies, such as Workplace Law; their range of accredited courses by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) can assist companies in training staff to be aware of the proper health and safety procedures for all kinds of workplace situations. The managing safely courses are for managers and supervisors in any sector and any organisation. It’s designed to give managers all they need to know to help handle health and safety in their teams.

The HSE has also recorded that there have been as many as 33 serious accidents and 3 fatal injuries due to overturning of mowers in the last seven years.