Safety measures have been introduced at a recycling centre in Trowbridge after an employee was crushed to death by a skip lorry.

A jury sitting at an inquest into the death of 63-year-old grandfather Bert Reeves, who was crushed by a reversing lorry at EJ Shanley’s waste management centre in Green Lane, ruled his death was an accident.

Since Mr Reeves’ death on June 21, 2007, Health and Safety Executive Liam Osborne said reversing cameras and alarms had been fitted to all vehicles, written procedures introduced and the site changed so pedestrians and vehicles are kept separate.

The inquest, held at Flax Bourton Coroner’s Court near Bristol on Thursday and Friday, heard how family man Mr Reeves, who had just returned from a two-week holiday in Spain, was crushed by a lorry being driven by 47-year-old Steven Butler.

During the day Mr Reeves, of Kensington Fields on the Studley Green estate in Trowbridge, had been using a large industrial shredding machine known as the Hammel.

Reliving the accident, Mr Butler told the jury: “I reversed back until I felt my rear wheels touch the edge of the material.

“As they touched I could see the Hammel remote lying on the ground in front of my lorry.

“As I got out to go and pick it up I saw Bert’s legs and lower abdomen sticking out from the lorry, directly under the number plate.

“There was blood all over him.

“I cradled his head in my arms and wrapped a t-shirt around his head.”

Fellow driver Jason Beaman didn’t see the incident but saw Mr Butler crouched over a body.

He said: “I saw Steve and another member of staff and knew something terrible had happened.

“Steve was hunched over Bert who had lots of blood on his head.

“I took my t-shirt off to use as a bandage and called 999.”

Despite the Wiltshire Air Ambulance being scrambled and taking Mr Reeves to Frenchay Hospital in Bristol he died later that evening from his injuries.

Mr Butler described Mr Reeves as being the picture of health.

He said: “That day he was in good spirits telling us about his holiday.

“He was a friendly guy and always talked about his grandchildren.

“It has been a terrible shock, we were very close.”

The jury were told it was unclear why Mr Reeves was behind the skip-lorry.

Mr Butler added: “I don’t know why Bert was there.

“We had just had a tea break in the restroom and Bert was getting ready to go home. He took his high visibility jacket off.

“I told him I was going to tip my last load.

“I went left to my lorry and he went right to his car.”

Mr Butler said Mr Reeves was not holding the Hammel remote control when he left the restroom.

At the conclusion of the inquest the deputy coroner for Avon, Brian Whitehouse, passed on his condolences to Mr Reeves’ family and thanked them for attending.