Halfords fined after employee killed during roadside repair

Halfords has been fined £600,000 after an employee was killed by a vehicle while carrying out a roadside repair.

Niall Fawcett, from Talke, Staffordshire, died on a slip road at junction 7 of the M56 near Bowdon, Cheshire, on 2 August, 2024.

The 21-year-old suffered fatal head injuries when the vehicle he had been working on slipped from a hydraulic lifting tool and landed on him.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Halfords had failed to properly assess the risks of replacing a blown-out tyre on a low-profile truck.

A spokesperson for Halfords described Fawcett’s death as a “tragic incident” and said “the health of safety of our colleagues is our highest priority”.

HSE’s investigation also found the company, based in Redditch, Worcestershire, had failed to give employees suitable work instructions, including information on when a truck should be recovered rather than repaired at the roadside.