Mike Preddy, aged 37, of Marlwood Drive in Bristol, was repairing the asbestos cement roof at a commercial property on Avonside Industrial Estate when he plunged through a roof light and dropped more than 7m. He sustained multiple fractures to his back, arms, legs and ribs.
The Health and Safety Executive found that Mr Preddy's employers, Associated Roofing & Maintenance Limited, of Venture Way, Priorswood, Taunton, had failed to provide adequate fall protection.
At Bristol Magistrates Court yesterday the company pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 9(2) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005, and was fined £4,500 and ordered to pay costs of £2,482.
After the hearing HSE inspector Steve Frain said: "Work at height carries a risk of serious injury and even death and it is the duty holder's responsibility to ensure workers are protected from falling.
"Associated Roofing & Maintenance Limited should have ensured they had protected any fragile material while work was being carried out on the roof, which would have significantly reduced the risk of this serious incident from happening."
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