Roofers Billy Smith and Ashley Burton fell more than three metres to the ground below when a scaffold gave way because other workmen began digging a trench near the base of the framework.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted both partners from Select Estates Ltd, of Hurst Green, for breaching the health and safety laws which led to the incident.
Brighton Magistrates' Court heard a number of roofers at the new housing development in London Road, Hurst Green, were standing on scaffolding between two semi-detached houses. The scaffolding was loaded with tiles.
Down below, two ground workers began digging a trench next to the foot standings of the scaffold to install drain and sewer systems. The standings of the scaffold were undermined by the removal of dirt to create the trench, and slipped into the trench.
As a result of the incident, Mr Smith from Kemsing, Kent, injured his lower back while Mr Burton, from Sevenoaks, Kent, received cuts to his head and tore a muscle in his shoulder. He was off work for two months.
The court was told the incident was caused by a number of parties carrying out their allotted tasks without co-operation or co-ordination.
The scaffold was overloaded with people and building materials and there was no suitable site supervision.
John Marton and Martin Taylor, principal contractors of Select Estates Ltd of Hurst Green both pleaded guilty to regulation 22(1) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007. Each was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £6,832.
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