Stevenson’s P&H Ltd of Pinner, Middlesex, has been fined £20,000 and ordered to pay £7,373 in costs for safety failings after an employee was seriously injured in a fall from scaffolding in Hertfordshire.

The 61-year-old employee, who does not wish to be named, sustained multiple fractures in the incident in 2010 at a house in Hitchin that was being refurbished.

He fell approximately 5m to the ground and is yet to make a full recovery, or return to work, Stevenage Magistrates’ Court were told when they heard the case last month.

An investigation by the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) found the company had provided scaffolding, but had failed to fit suitable edge protection, such as a handrail, mid-rail or toe board, in the section where the fall occurred.

Stevenson’s P&H Ltd pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

After the hearing, HSE Principal Inspector Norman Macritchie said: “Falls from height are all too common in the construction industry, with unsafe scaffolding often the root cause.

“The risks are well known and safe-working guidance is readily available, yet still entirely preventable incidents occur – as was the case here.

“It is vital that work at height is properly planned and organised, and that all -necessary precautions are taken to protect workers.”

HSE statistics show 38 people were killed and more than 6,000 were injured by falling last year.

Information on working safely at height can be found online at www.hse.gov.uk/falls.