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James Cranswick, 26, was installing temporary scaffolding edge protection for Clover Access Systems Limited at a warehouse at Acre Mills in Keighley, West Yorkshire, when the incident took place. CCTV footage shows Cranswick falling onto a pallet truck before landing on the warehouse floor.
He was on the roof carrying materials from one end of the unit to the other when he stepped on a skylight and subsequently fell more than 6 metres to the concrete floor beneath.
An HSE investigation found that both Clover Access Systems Limited and contractor STM360 Limited failed to plan, manage and monitor the work being undertaken by the scaffolders at the unit.
No measures were in place to prevent the scaffolders falling from the edge of the unit, or through the fragile elements of the roof. The skylights of the unit were almost invisible to Cranswick and he was unaware of any fragile elements of the roof.
Clover Access Systems Limited pleaded guilty to breaching safety regulations and was fined £26,000 and ordered to pay costs of £2,866 at Leeds Magistrates Court. The company went into liquidation last month.
STM360 Limited also pleaded guilty and was fined £53,300 and ordered to pay £3,167 in costs.
HSE Inspector Shauna Halstead, said: “Mr Cranswick is lucky to be alive after this incident.
“His fall was wholly avoidable; the risks associated with work on, or around fragile surfaces are well-known, and HSE guidance is available to assist companies in complying with the law.”