Joshua Hardman (23 years old) suffered fatal head injuries as he helped to inflate a tractor tyre at a farm run by W Hesketh and Sons on 7 May 2021.
At the time of the accident, Hardman was helping one of the partners of the business – Bill Hesketh – re-seat and inflate a large tractor tyre.
As Hesketh inflated the inner tube within the tyre, it suddenly exploded and the release of compressed air propelled the wheel rim into Hardman, causing traumatic head injuries.
Skull and brain injuries
Hardman was taken to hospital and underwent skull and brain surgeries, but subsequently passed away on 11 June after his condition deteriorated.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that W Hesketh and Sons had failed to properly assess and plan this work activity and failed to identify and put in place the measures necessary to control the risks involved when inflating large commercial tyres.
It also found that the risk of an explosion was much higher 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.
Pleaded guilty
W Hesketh and Sons, of Grange Lane, Hutton, Preston, pleaded guilty to breaching regulation 2(1) of the Health and Safety At Work Act 1974. They were fined £80,000 and ordered to pay £8,605 costs at a hearing at Preston Magistrates Court on 4 February 2025.
Commenting 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.”
Meanwhile, a farm business has been fined more than £130k following an incident that left a 37-year-old man seriously injured.
