Council fined after worker is thrown from mower

Cirencester Town Council has been ordered to pay £29,000, following an incident in September 2012 in which a worker was thrown from a mower while cutting grass at the town’s amphitheatre.
The worker sustained four broken ribs and bruising, in what HSE called an “entirely avoidable” incident.
Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court heard how the groundsman was carrying out routine grass cutting on the outside slope of the amphitheatre using a ride-on mower. The mower tipped over throwing him off, and he was then hit by the machine. He was off work for two months and was only able to work on light duties for a further month when he returned.
Cirencester Town Council pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £12,000 with costs of £17,000.
Following the hearing HSE inspector Alison Fry said: “The worker could have easily been killed, having been put at unnecessary risk because there were several other ways this work could have been carried out safely.
“I hope it serves to remind employers to take all site conditions into account, including slopes, before choosing equipment to cut grass.
“Employers need to carry out risk assessments to decide how to carry out a job safely.
“They then need to provide adequate training, information and instructions.”
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Council fined after worker is thrown from mower
Cirencester Town Council has been ordered to pay £29,000, following an incident in September 2012 in which a worker was thrown from a mower while cutting grass at the town’s amphitheatre.
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