A company has been prosecuted for safety failings after a worker fell through a roof window opening during work on a new build extension.

Sunshine Lofts Limited of Holywell Hill, St. Albans, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4 of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It has been fined £30,000 with more than £2,008 in costs.

Luton Magistrates Court heard how the employee was carrying out work on the extension on 26 July 2016.

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However, during the work his foot slipped and he fell through a roof light gap, landing on the concrete floor below. His injuries included two broken ribs and a broken hip.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found the although the company had identified in risk assessments suitable measures to prevent falls, they failed to implement these at the time of the injured persons fall.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Samantha Wells said: "Falls from height remain one of the most common causes of work-related fatalities in this country and the risks associated with working at height are well-known.

"In this case, by putting in place measures to prevent falls through the skylight including boarding over the gaps, or providing a scaffold platform under the roof under construction, could have removed the danger of falling."

(LM)