A Hertfordshire farmer's account of being crushed by three hay bales is a stark reminder that a familiar seasonal job can still change in seconds.
Will Dickinson was working alone on 20 June, loading large hay bales onto a trailer, when the far side of the load reportedly became unstable. As he pulled a securing strap over the trailer, three bales with a combined weight of approximately 1,500kg fell onto him.
He suffered multiple serious injuries and required six weeks of hospital treatment. Crucially, he had a mobile phone within reach and was able to call for help while trapped.
His experience received renewed national coverage on 14 September. It should not be treated as a formal investigation finding or proof that one specific procedure would have prevented the accident. It does, however, provide a valuable prompt to review how bales are loaded, secured and moved, and whether a lone worker can summon help when something goes wrong.
Why bale loading needs a planned system
Large square and round bales are heavy enough to cause fatal injuries. Their stability can be affected by bale shape, density, string condition, moisture, loading pattern, trailer movement and the ground beneath the vehicle.
A process that has worked hundreds of times can still fail if one bale is poorly formed, the trailer is uneven or the load shifts while a strap is being positioned.
The Health and Safety Executive's bale guidance covers stacking, transport, de-stacking and emergency planning. The central lesson is straightforward: bale handling should be assessed and planned rather than treated as an informal routine.
Seven checks before moving the next load
1. Assess the bales and loading area
Start with the condition of the bales themselves.
Bowed, loosely tied or poorly compacted bales may not form a dependable load. Set aside anything that cannot be stacked securely rather than trying to make it fit between sound bales.
Park the trailer on firm, level ground wherever reasonably practicable. Consider whether ruts, slopes or soft ground could allow the trailer or load to lean while loading.
Bales and stacks must also be kept safely away from overhead power lines. HSE guidance should be consulted when planning any work near electrical infrastructure.
2. Inspect the trailer and handling equipment
Confirm that the tractor, telehandler, loader, attachment and trailer are suitable for the bales being moved.
Pre-use checks should include:
- Trailer structure and floor
- Tyres and wheel condition
- Brakes and connections
- Headboards, ladders and side structures
- Lashing points
- Straps, ropes and tensioning equipment
- Hydraulic hoses and couplings
- The bale spike, grab or other attachment
- Mirrors, cameras and working lights
Do not exceed the vehicle's gross or axle limits. A tall load can also increase rollover risk and affect braking and steering.
Defective equipment should be taken out of service until properly assessed and repaired.
3. Establish the loading pattern first
Do not improvise the pattern as the load grows.
The NFU advises that square bales should be arranged tightly, with the top layer binding the layers below. Wider, more compact bales should form the foundation.
The exact arrangement will depend on the bale type, size and trailer. The objective is a stable load that does not depend entirely on the tension of its straps to remain upright.
Never stack bales beyond the edge of the trailer. Keep unnecessary people outside the loading area and away from both sides of the vehicle.
4. Stay outside the likely fall zone
A person beside an unrestrained load may have little or no time to react if a bale begins to move.
Before loading starts, decide how straps will be positioned and retrieved without requiring anyone to stand where bales could fall. If the planned method places a worker beside an unstable face, stop and redesign the task.
Mechanical handling equipment must only be operated by trained and authorised people. The operator should have a clear view of the loading area and must not move a bale over another person.
Nobody should climb on an unsecured load to arrange bales or retrieve a strap.
5. Use suitable restraints
The load must be stable before the journey begins and secured using equipment rated for the forces involved.
NFU guidance recommends at least one lashing for each column of large square bales, with additional cross-strapping at the rear. Requirements vary with bale type, trailer design and loading pattern, so use the relevant official guidance rather than relying on habit.
Inspect straps for cuts, damaged stitching, distorted hooks and illegible rating labels. Check that anchor points are structurally suitable and compatible with the restraint equipment.
Recheck the load after sudden braking, swerving or any sign of movement. A shifted load should be dealt with through a planned safe method, not by releasing tension while standing where the bales may fall.
6. Reconsider lone working
The accident account confirms that Mr Dickinson was working alone. This does not mean every bale-handling activity automatically requires two people, but lone working changes the consequences if something goes wrong.
Before permitting the task, ask:
- Can one person complete it safely?
- Is assistance required while positioning straps?
- Does somebody know the worker's location?
- Is there a defined check-in time?
- Is mobile reception available?
- What happens if the check-in is missed?
- Can emergency vehicles reach the field?
HSE guidance requires employers to include lone workers in risk assessments, provide appropriate training and supervision, keep in touch and have a response procedure.
A phone should be carried on the person, not left inside a tractor or pickup that may become inaccessible. It should be charged, protected from damage and configured with emergency contacts and location-sharing features where appropriate.
7. Prepare for the emergency you hope never happens
Prevention comes first, but the farm still needs a workable emergency plan.
Record field entrances, access restrictions and precise locations. Make sure the person raising the alarm can explain how an ambulance or fire appliance will reach the casualty.
First-aid arrangements should reflect the risks and remoteness of the work. Workers should understand their training limits and call 999 immediately for serious injury.
A compact vehicle kit can help keep emergency items together in the tractor, pickup or support vehicle. The FarmPacks Vehicle Safety Emergency Kit is one option for organising first-aid and roadside equipment.
Before relying on any kit, inspect its complete contents, expiry dates and equipment specifications. Keep it accessible without entering a vehicle or area exposed to a falling load.
An emergency pack does not restrain bales, replace safe loading procedures or make high-risk lone working acceptable. It supports the response after preventive controls have failed.
A short pre-loading checklist
Before the first bale is lifted, confirm:
- The ground and trailer are stable.
- The bales are sound and suitable for stacking.
- Machinery, brakes and attachments have been checked.
- The loading pattern and exclusion area are understood.
- Straps and anchor points are suitable.
- Nobody needs to enter the fall zone.
- The worker has a phone, check-in arrangement and emergency location.
- The load will be inspected before and during transport.
The most dangerous phrase around a familiar task is often “we have always done it this way”. Bale loading deserves the same planning and discipline as any other operation involving heavy machinery and suspended or unstable loads.
This article provides general safety information. It does not replace a suitable risk assessment, competent training, official guidance or the machinery and equipment manufacturers' instructions.
Sources
The Times: Farmer who led fly-tipping campaign crushed by hay bales — 14 September 2026
NFU: Member shares lessons from serious hay-bale accident — 8 September 2026
HSE: Safe working with bales in agriculture — published 2012; updated 28 October 2024
HSE: Managing the risks of lone working — accessed 15 September 2026
