Two feet of water would not seem to pose a drowning hazard for an adult, but it proved fatal for a 25-year-old lawn maintenance worker in New York. The 25-year-old man died after his riding mower tipped over into a pond in an industrial park.

Jorge Trinidad of Newburgh was cutting the grass at Northeast Business Center when his riding mower rolled and trapped him beneath two feet of pond water. He drowned as a result. Police suspect the mower tipped over while Trinidad was operating the machine on a slope near a pond.

Employers must ensure that workers are properly trained in the hazards of operating riding lawn mowers, especially on slopes.