A building contractor has been fined for breaking safety legislation after a young worker plunged 5m through a barn roof on to a concrete floor causing extensive and permanent injuries.

Gethin Bailey, 23, from Newborough on Anglesey, was asked to dismantle the barn roof unsupervised when the incident happened on 13 December 2012.

The incident was investigated by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE), which, on 23 January, prosecuted Mr Bailey’s employer, builder Ian Perkins, at Holyhead Magistrates' Court.

The court heard that Mr Perkins had been contracted to dismantle the disused barn at Llangaffo, Gaerwen, and sent Mr Bailey to do the job. Mr Bailey went on to the fragile roof to cut through bolt heads that were securing the roof sheets when a section of roof gave way beneath him.

His injuries included broken wrists, an ankle and heel and two fractured vertebrae, leaving him with difficulties walking and holding. He has also been diagnosed with arthritis caused by the fall and has been unable to return to work.

The HSE investigation found Mr Bailey had been sent to the site with no supervision from Mr Perkins, who should have warned him of the dangers of working on a fragile roof and advised him how to carry out the job in a safe way.

Ian Robyn Perkins, of Lon Twynti, Newborough, near Llanfairpwllgwyngyll pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health & Safety at Work Act etc 1974 and was fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £775 in costs.

Further information about working safely on fragile roofs can be found on the HSE website at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/geis5.htm