Tyre Firm Fined £1 Million after Death of Worker

A tyre firm based in Kent has been fined £1 million after a 21 year old worker was killed when a tyre exploded.

Incident

Matthew Hoare, an employee of Watling Tyre Service Limited, was making repairs to the punctured tyre of a ‘dressing loader shovel’ when the tyre exploded.

Following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), it was found that Matthew was working with ‘inadequate’ equipment that had not been properly maintained. Furthermore it was found that Matthew was working alone, without having undertaken any training for the work he had been instructed to complete.

HSE Principle Inspector, Mike Walters, said:

“Employees need to be provided with properly maintained equipment and the correct equipment to undertake tasks whilst out on site. Employees also need to be trained and competent in the tasks they were asked to undertake.”

After pleading guilty to breaches of Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, Watling Tyre Service Limited of Kent was fined a total of £1 million. The company was also ordered to pay costs of £99,485.

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Source: Health & Safety Executive