- Simon Pedder was crushed under a reversing recovery truck and now needs crutches, a frame and a wheelchair.
- More than 10 months on, he has been unable to return to work and says, “life will never be the same”.
- HSE found the company had no suitable traffic management system and no adequate precautions for reversing vehicles – which remain a leading cause of workplace injury.
A Swindon-based vehicle recovery business has been fined after a worker was struck by a reversing vehicle and suffered life-changing injuries.
On 13 June 2025, Simon Pedder was undertaking yard duties at Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited in Highworth when he was suddenly hit and crushed under a company-owned recovery truck.
Mr Pedder suffered fractures to both legs and an arm, a punctured lung and a fractured rib. He was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, where he spent five weeks and underwent several operations to rebuild his legs, including skin grafts.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited had failed to implement a suitable traffic management system to make sure vehicles and pedestrians could circulate safely and had not implemented proper precautions to assist reversing drivers.
More than 10 months later, Mr Pedder’s recovery has not progressed as he had hoped. The extent of his injuries means that in addition to using crutches, a Zimmer frame and wheelchair, Simon now needs regular care visits and cannot carry out basic tasks like getting into the shower without help. He has been told he will most likely need walking aids for the rest of his life.
Describing the impact of the incident on his life, Mr Pedder said:
“I used to be a very sociable person, the life of the party, both in work and with friends; this has been taken away from me as now I spend my days sitting at home by myself. My mood is very low, and this is affecting not only myself but also my family, who say my personality appears to have changed completely.”
He added, “there are many basic things I can’t do, for example, I can’t cut the grass, I can’t fold the washing, I can’t go for a walk, and I am not allowed to drive. This accident took away my freedom.”
He also described the impact on his family, with his wife cutting short her working hours to support his care, and the family rearranging the living room to accommodate a hospital bed. Mr Pedder said: “I feel so bad because I am affecting those who are close to me. My life will never be the same and I feel like this accident should never have happened as I was only doing my job.”
Failure to manage reversing vehicle risks
HSE inspectors found failures by Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited to properly control the risk of reversing vehicles – despite this being one of the leading causes of workplace fatal injury. To manage workplace transport effectively, employers should consider the risks associated with their site and vehicles. Where workers are required to operate on foot in areas where there are moving vehicles, employers must ensure traffic routes are organised in a way that prevents collisions between pedestrians and vehicles.
HSE guidance advises implementing a one-way system for vehicle circulation to eliminate the need for reversing. Where this isn’t possible, the site should be organised to include safety measures such as protective barriers, clear markings and pedestrian crossing points. To aid a driver’s field of vision and alert pedestrians to reversing vehicles, precautionary measures such as rear-view cameras and warning alarms should also be fitted to vehicles.
Guidance on workplace transport safety is freely available on the HSE website: Workplace transport – HSE.
Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited, based at Blackworth Industrial Estate, Highworth, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974. The company was fined £28,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 in costs at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 29 October 2026.
HSE Inspector Laura Artosi said:
“Almost 25 per cent of fatal workplace transport accidents in Great Britain occur while a vehicle is reversing – a stark reminder to employers to properly assess and manage this fundamental risk.
“Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited lacked a suitable traffic management system, including adequate arrangements to ensure vehicles could reverse without risks to those on foot. These failings led to an incident that has robbed Simon Pedder of much of his freedom and will likely have a lasting impact on his life.
“Had Cotswold Vehicle Recovery (Swindon) Limited implemented robust measures to allow pedestrians and vehicles to move safely across its site, this incident would not have occurred.”
This HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Karen Park and paralegal officer Michael Millman.
Further information:
- The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
- More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
- Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
- Relevant guidance can be found here: A guide to workplace transport safety – HSE and Safe manoeuvring – HSE.
- HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here: Health and safety offences, corporate manslaughter and food safety and hygiene offences