A construction firm and building owner have been fined after a builder suffered fractured vertebrae when he fell from a factory roof in Hertfordshire.

Danny Langdon (63) of Sudbury, Suffolk, injured his spine in the seven-metre fall on Christmas Eve 2008 and has been off work since.

Mr Langdon fell through a factory roof light, hit a gantry crane and landed on machinery below.

His employer, Hartog Hutton Ltd, appeared at St Albans Crown Court and admitted breaching three health and safety regulations. The company was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £7,076 in costs.

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Hartog Hutton Ltd's registered address is Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, Hampshire, but it is based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

Fluorocarbon Company Ltd, of Caxton Hill, Hertford, which had contracted Hartog Hutton to carry out the repairs to its factory roof, appeared at East Hertfordshire Magistrates' Court in Hertford on 26 April 2010 and admitted one charge. It was fined £5,000 with £5,195 in costs.

HSE Inspector John Berezansky said: "This incident was entirely avoidable and should not have happened. Working at height is one of the most obvious and well-known dangers for those involved in repairing or maintenance of buildings.

"Mr Langdon is lucky to be alive. More than 4,000 employees suffered serious injury after falling from height last year and 15 were killed. Employers need to plan ahead and assess potential risks before carrying out any work at height.

"HSE will continue to prosecute companies that fail to carry out their duties, which includes both employers and firms hiring contractors to do specialist work for them."

(CD/GK)