A tyre company has been fined £600,000 after an employee was killed when a truck fell on him while he was changing a tyre at the side of the M56. Niall Fawcett, 21, had been in his role for less than four months when the incident happened on August 2 2024.
Mr Fawcett was called out to replace a blown-out tyre on the slip road at junction 7 of the M56 near Bowdon. While positioned below the truck, which was said to be low profile, it slipped from the jack holding it up and landed on him, causing fatal injuries.
Health and safety failings
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said that Mr Fawcett's employer had not properly assessed the risks associated with replacing tyres on a low-profile vehicle. The company, Lodge Tyre Company Limited, now known as Halford Commercial Fleet Services, a subsidiary of Halfords, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974 at Warrington Magistrates' Court on November 3.
The company was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £200 and £24,203 in costs. The HSE also said the company had failed to give employees suitable work instructions, including information on when a truck should be recovered rather than repaired at the roadside.
Investigation findings
The investigation found that Mr Fawcett had only obtained his licence to work on commercial tyres at the roadside when he joined the company, less than four months before his death. Despite this, he had not been subject to any monitoring or supervision to ensure that he was working safely.
In a statement, Niall's mother Sharon said he had been 'building a life' together with his partner and he should have been 'supported and protected' whilst at work. She said: "Niall was only 21 years old when he died. He had his whole life ahead of him. He was planning to marry the following year and he and Megan were saving for a deposit on their first home together and talking about starting a family.
"Niall was building for a life he was excited for and this was taken from him in an instant. Niall went to work that day and should have been safe, supported and protected. Instead, my son never came home."
HSE statement
HSE Principal Inspector Laura Royales said: "This case should serve to highlight to employers the importance of properly assessing the risks to which their workers are exposed and providing the right information and instructions, supplemented by adequate monitoring and supervision arrangements, to ensure that they can and do work safely. Our thoughts remain with Niall’s family as they continue to come to terms with their tragic loss."
