THE death of a lorry driver in Swindon may lead to changes in national health and safety policies.

It has already changed the policy of Aldi supermarket distribution depots the company the man was working for when he fell from his vehicle and died.

Following the inquest into the man's death, held in Swindon, the Health and Safety Executive may follow suit by changing national laws.

The inquest held at Swindon police station heard how 47-year-old Graham Badger of Bedford died after falling from the lorry he was unloading at the Aldi distribution depot in South Marston Industrial Estate.

Accident investigator Clive Browning, of Swindon Council, said: "Why he fell is difficult to explain. Whether conditions were wet underfoot or he fell while overreaching, for some reason he fell off the ladder."

The court heard how Mr Badger reversed his lorry to within four feet of the loading bay and propped a ladder against a wall, leaning it away from the lorry. He then climbed on to the ladder, facing towards the truck, and used a large pole to flip open the curtain-type back doors of the lorry.

While doing this, it was possible the ladder slipped and Mr Badger fell onto it, banging his head against the wall. The autopsy revealed Mr Badger had severely fractured his skull.

Following the accident, investigations were carried out by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

On the same day as the accident managers at the Aldi store sent faxes to their five distribution depots around the country, to say the policy had changed immediately and that lorry drivers had to keep both feet on the ground when getting their trailers ready to be unloaded.

Mr Browning, a senior environmental health officer at the council, wrote an accident report for the HSE.

He said there were no records of similar accidents, which explained why there were no previous health and safety guidelines.

Wiltshire coroner David Masters said: "Transport safety is currently under review by the HSE, and as a result of this inquest this accident will be looked at and policies about unloading vehicles like this may be changed."

The seven-man jury gave a verdict of misadventure.