Magistrates at Nottingham Crown Court recently fined a Norfolk construction company £260,000 and ordered the firm to pay £80,000 costs after an employee fell 10 metres to his death.

Daniel Askew, 22, from Capel Iwan, Pembrokeshire, was working for FJ Chalcroft Construction when he died.

Mr Askew fell after he leaned on an unsecured handrail on the mezzanine area of a cold store under construction at the Belle Eau Industrial Park, Bilsthorpe, Nottinghamshire in November 2003.

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FJ Chalcroft pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) and 3(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

HSE inspector Cliff Seymour said: "This was a tragic accident which resulted in the death of young man with his life ahead of him. Falls from height remain the most common kind of accident causing fatal injuries. Latest figures show that 46 people died from a fall from height at work in 2005/06, with 3,351 seriously injured. Companies involved in building, refurbishment or maintenance should ensure that the work is planned properly and sensible measures taken so that workers are not exposed to risk."

(DW/SP)