Farm partnership fined after man killed by exploding tyre
A Lancashire farm partnership is fined £80,000 after a man with ‘a heart of gold’ died following an incident. This happened at a dairy farm in Hutton near Preston.
Joshua Hardman, just 23, suffered fatal head injuries as he helped to inflate a tractor tyre at the farm.
At the time of the incident, Joshua had been helping Mr Hesketh, re-seat and inflate a large tractor tyre. As the inner tube was inflated within the tyre, it suddenly exploded. The catastrophic release of compressed air propelled the wheel rim into Joshua, causing traumatic head injuries. He was taken to hospital and underwent skull and brain surgeries, but passed away after deterioration in his condition.
Tyre removal, replacement and inflation should only be tackled by competent staff.
Tip: HSE guidance on repair / tyre removal can be found at: guidance .
A man with a “heart of Gold”
In a statement, his family said: “Joshua was a very loving, caring, kind and gentle person. He had a heart of gold.
“He was also an amazing dad, and it is heart-breaking that he will never reach his full potential in that role.
“His five-year-old daughter will miss out on a great deal of love and affection and the role he would have played in her life.”
HSE Investigation findings
An investigation by HSE found that W Hesketh and Sons had failed to properly assess and plan this work activity. They also failed to identify and put in place measures necessary to control risks involved when inflating large commercial tyres.
The investigation also found that the risk of an explosion was much higher. This was because the tyre wheel rim and inner tube were all in a poorly maintained condition. A suitable and sufficient assessment had not been made to determine whether the damaged tyre, inner tube and wheel rim were suitable to be inflated safely.
W Hesketh and Sons, of Hutton, Preston, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety At Work Act. They were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £8,605 costs at a hearing at Preston Magistrates Court on February2025.
After the hearing, HSE inspector Anthony Banks said: “This was a tragic incident, and a much-loved young man has lost his life. It could have easily been avoided with the right controls in place.
“HSE would like to make all employers aware that, before they undertake the inflation of large commercial tyres, they need to have correctly assessed the risk and have in place the suitable controls for the task.”
Safety Aide can assist your business regarding Health and Safety, including Risk Assessments, please get in touch on 08000 806 801or email: info@safetyaide.com