A council worker was seriously injured when he fell from a ride-on mower whilst cutting grass at St Peter and St Paul's Church in North Wheatley on 30 May 2024.
The Health and Safety Executive investigated the incident and took legal action against Bassetlaw District Council. At Nottingham Magistrates Court on 30 March, the council was fined £50,000 and ordered to pay the HSE's investigation costs.
The council pleaded guilty to both charges and has since overhauled its approach to workplace safety. David Armiger, Chief Executive, said the council has invested an extra £350,000 in health and safety training over three years, restructured its Health and Safety Team, and introduced more robust compliance checks.
The worker who was injured has since returned to work and the council says it continues to support them. The council states it remains committed to improving its health and safety culture across all operations.