TWO men have been fined after a worker plummeted 20 feet through a fragile warehouse roof, sustaining serious injuries.

Bradley White broke four bones in his back, suffered a broken hip and pelvis, shattered his left arm in four places and his right wrist.

The 27-year-old, who was hospitalised for three weeks and needed numerous operations, had been working for Michael Davies to replace the roof at W&S Recycling, Nuffield Industrial Estate, Poole, in March last year. The industrial unit is owned and occupied by Geoff Thompson.

Both Davies and Thompson were prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) at Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court.

The HSE investigation found there was no safety netting or any other measure in place at the site to stop Mr White falling or prevent him being injured. He’d been walking on the fragile cement roof on March 27, when his foot went through one of the sheets, sending him sprawling onto the concrete floor below.

Davies, of Kingston Road, Poole, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure workers were not put at risk. He was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £2,000 costs.

Thompson, who trades as W&S Recycling, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure arrangements made for managing the project were suitable. He was fined £1,500 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs.

Speaking after Friday’s hearing, HSE Inspector James Powell said: “The dangers of working at height are well known, yet workers undertaking roof work and building maintenance sometimes die or are permanently disabled because of the poor safety standards and lack of safeguards that still exists among some contractors.

“Geoff Thompson did not properly assess Mr Davies’ arrangements for health and safety and determine whether he would be able to do the work safely and without risk.”

W&S Recycling operates across the UK for a number of local councils.

It has formed a partnership with AFC Bournemouth and Bournemouth Borough Council, plus other local companies, to enable local community groups to apply for environmental grants.