The workshop at Red Scar Tyres which health and safety inspectors said was cluttered and unsafe

A tyre firm in Preston has been fined for breaching health and safety rules which led to the death of one of its employees.

Gary Jackson, 46, of Lostock Hall, received fatal injuries from a burst tyre while working at Red Scar Tyres.

The firm has been fined for three health and safety offences following the accident in February 2012.

Preston City Council’s health and safety team prosecuted the firm, which pleaded guilty to all three offences during a hearing at Preston Crown Court on Friday.

Senior environmental health officer Jonathan Cruikshank said: “The court heard Mr Jackson was inflating a lorry tyre without a gauged airline. This allowed air to continue to inflate the tyre until it burst. Mr Jackson was in close proximity to the tyre when it burst, causing his injuries.

“A delivery driver, who was visiting the premises at the time, was also near the tyre when it burst and felt the blast, but fortunately suffered no injuries.”

An investigation by the city council found a catalogue of failures in the practices and procedures at the premises.

Red Scar Tyres were in possession of safety documentation that highlighted the hazards and significant risks of tyre inflation, but had failed to act upon that information.

Andy Howard, environmental health manager at the city council, said: “This tragic incident, which has had a devastating effect on Mr. Jackson’s family, was entirely preventable. There were simple, sensible and proportionate control measures that the employer should have taken to prevent this type of incident from occurring in the first place.

“However, these measures were carried out by the company in the aftermath of the accident.

“Red Scar Tyres Ltd. should have undertaken risk assessments and put in place adequate controls and robust safe systems of working. Specific guidance on tyre inflation is available for the trade that can assist in this process.

“It is also essential that employees are trained and supervised to ensure that safe working practices are followed and maintained in the

“This was a reckless breach of the law. The company knew of the dangers of tyres bursting, but did little to prevent it. It is the duty of employers to protect the health and safety of its employees, along with any visitors to their premises. When businesses fail in this duty, the Council will take action.

“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of Mr Jackson.”

The court fined the firm £68,000 and ordered it to pay costs of £25,386.70.