Farm fined £80k after man killed by exploding tyre

Joshua Hardman's daughter will miss out on a "great deal of love and affection", his family says

A farming group in Lancashire has been fined £80,000 after a farmhand was killed by an exploding tractor tyre.

Joshua Hardman, 23, suffered fatal head injuries as he helped to inflate a tyre at a dairy farm in Hutton, Preston, run by W Hesketh and Sons on 7 May 2021.

W Hesketh and Sons pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 at Preston Magistrates' Court.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) who brought the prosecution said the tragic death of Mr Hardman, who was described by his family as having a "heart of gold", was "easily avoidable".

Mr Hardman, from Longridge, had been helping one of the partners in the business, Bill Hesketh, re-seat and inflate a large tractor tyre when the incident happened.

As Mr Hesketh inflated the inner tube within the tyre, it suddenly exploded and the catastrophic release of compressed air propelled the wheel rim into Mr Hardman, the HSE said.

He was taken to hospital and underwent skull and brain surgeries but died on 11 June.

Tyre removal, replacement and inflation should only be tackled by competent staff and guidance is available, the HSE said.

The HSE found W Hesketh and Sons had failed to properly assess and plan the work and failed to identify and put in place the measures necessary to control the risks involved when inflating large commercial tyres.

'Amazing dad'

The investigation also found 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, the HSE said.

As well as the £80,000 fine, W Hesketh and Sons, of Grange Lane, Hutton, were also ordered to pay £8,605 costs.

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."

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 heartbreaking 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."