Farm partnership fined after man with ‘heart of gold’ killed by exploding tyre
A Lancashire farm partnership has been fined £80,000 after a man with ‘a heart of gold’ died following an incident at a dairy farm in Hutton near Preston.
Joshua Hardman, who was just 23, suffered fatal head injuries as he helped to inflate a tractor tyre at the farm on May 7, 2021. The father of one from Longridge, was working as a farmhand at the farm run by W Hesketh and Sons.
At the time of the incident, Joshua had been helping one of the partners in the business, Bill Hesketh, re-seat and inflate a large tractor tyre.
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 Joshua, causing traumatic head injuries.
He was taken to hospital and underwent skull and brain surgeries, but he subsequently passed away on June 11, after a further deterioration in his condition.
Tyre removal, replacement and inflation should only be tackled by competent staff and Health and Safety Executive (HSE) guidance is available.
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 that he will never reach his full potential in that role.”
They added: “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.”
An investigation by the 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 the measures necessary to control the risks involved when inflating large commercial tyres.
The investigation 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.
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 February 4, 2025.
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.”
The prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Gemma Zakrzewski and supported by paralegal officer Rebecca Foreman.
