‘Remarkable and warm-hearted’ dad died after farm vehicle flipped over

The owner of the farm where Colin Williams was working has now been ordered to pay more than £10k in fines and costs

The owner of a farm has been fined after a “much-loved” worker died when the vehicle he was travelling in overturned. Colin Williams died after being thrown from the all-terrain vehicle (ATV) he was in at a Monmouthshire farm in 2022.

At the time of his death, Mr Williams’ devastated family described him as a “warm-hearted” and “remarkable” dad, husband, son and brother.

A court has now fined the owner of the farm following an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Allen Roberts, of Hill Farm, Monmouth, has been ordered to pay more than £10,000 in fines and costs.

The investigation found that neither of the men in the vehicle at the time of the crash were wearing seatbelts or had training to use the vehicle. The tyres of the vehicle were also improperly inflated and no regular safety checks were carried out on the ATV.

“This accident was a tragic consequence of a lack of training, and a lack of basic safety precautions which cost a family a husband and a father,” a HSE representative said.

Mr Williams, 58, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash at Wyesham on August 25, 2022. The ATV was being driven down a hillside when the driver lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn and leading to Mr Williams being ejected from the ATV, which did not have any doors.

He suffered fatal crush injuries and died at the scene.

An investigation by the HSE found that neither Mr Williams or the driver of the vehicle had been provided with adequate training and neither of the men were wearing seat belts. The investigation also found that no routine pre-use checks were made on any of the vehicles owned by Roberts that were used on the farm to ensure they were safe to use.

The investigation identified that the tyres of the ATV were improperly inflated, with differing pressures in each tyre, which should have been rectified before the vehicle was used. The vehicle was being driven in a high gear and two-wheel drive when it should have been in a low gear and four-wheel drive.

The keys to the ATV were not adequately controlled and were available to anyone who was on the farm, including those not adequately trained.

Mr Williams was the only employee of Hill Farm and he was being assisted by the driver of the ATV in the clearance of vegetation and trees from a farm access route.

Following Mr Williams’ death, the family of the “much-loved farmer” raised over £12,000 for the Wales Air Ambulance in his memory.

A tribute to him read: “The Williams family and friends are paying tribute to their loved one, father, husband, son, and brother, Colin Williams, aged 58, who was taken from us so suddenly.

“Colin was a remarkable man who was warm-hearted and welcomed everyone he knew with open arms. Whoever you were, he managed to find a way to connect with you in a way that no one else could.

“He could make light of any predicament thanks to his empathetic nature, boundless generosity, and quick wit.

“The way Colin died was a testament to who he was. He will always be regarded as a hero by his family and loved ones.

“His final resting place on the Kymin where he worked for many years and was very special to him overlooks the Welsh hills and mountains, Llansoy, the Mayhill Pub, and his hometown of Monmouth, all of which held special significance to him as the places where he spent his childhood, built his family, rejoiced with friends, and lived out his life.

“Colin’s immediate family has vowed to carry on his legacy and to continue spreading the infectious love and kindness that he so naturally possessed. We ask for some time to collect our thoughts and for everyone to continue reflecting on his life, sharing stories and encounters that they had with him, and toasting a drink in his memory.

“May he rest peacefully in the land of our fathers (Hen Wlad Fy Nhadau).”

HSE guidance states employers must provide employees who use ATVs with adequate training and instruction on their safe use.

Any operators using the ATV owned by Roberts should have received training in the safe method of operating the type of terrain that was present on the farm and should have been instructed to wear seatbelts where there was a foreseeable risk of overturn.

There should have been a system for pre-use inspections to be carried out to ensure defects were identified and remedial actions taken before the vehicle was used, the HSE said.

Roberts pleaded guilty to an offence under Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. He was fined £5,500 and ordered to pay £5,813 in costs at Merthyr Tydfil Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday.

HSE Principal Inspector Damian Corbett said the dangers associated with ATVs in agriculture and forestry were well known.

“Anyone operating these machines should have the right training and be wearing seat belts when travelling,” he said.

“This accident was a tragic consequence of a lack of training, and a lack of basic safety precautions which cost a family a husband and a father.

“Employers must ensure that those entrusted to operate vehicles are properly trained and instructed to wear seat belts or safety equipment where there is a risk.”

Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice