A renewable energy company and its director have been prosecuted after a worker fell through a skylight at a farm in Cornwall.

Eco NRG Solutions Ltd of Polden Business Centre, Bristol Road, Bridgewater pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4 (1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and Section 33 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. It was fined £115,000 with over £2,879 in costs.

Jon Luke Antoniou of Furze Close, Bridgewater, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 37 (1) of the Health and Safety at work Act 1974. He was fined £5,000 with more than £1,957 in costs.

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Taunton Magistrates Court heard how Lewis Harding, 28, had been fitting solar panels on a fragile roof at Venn Farm on the 19 May 2015. However, he fell more than three metres through a skylight and broke his back in three places.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Eco NRG failed to take adequate precautions to prevent workers falling from height. There was no edge protection, under-roof netting or boarding provided on site, with the company instead relying on an ineffective use of harnesses.

In addition, it was discovered unsafe working had been taking place for months before the accident and then continued for months afterwards. This failure was attributed to the neglect of Mr Antoniou.

HSE inspector Sue Adsett said: "The worker is lucky to have not sustained more life threatening injuries from what we found to be a serious breach of the law.

"This case highlights the importance of directors being vigilant and acting on their obligations."

(LM/MH)