Paul Cartwright, trading as Cartwright Construction, was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive over safety failings at a site off Conway Road in Cardiff.

Cardiff Magistrates’ Court heard that during a visit to the site last September an HSE inspector saw two employees standing on the outer edge of a partially-completed first storey structure.

No edge protection was in place to prevent workers from falling. There were also no scaffolds, bean bags or nets in place to offer protection.

The company did not have an on-site method statement for working at height and neither Cartwright nor the site foreman had received adequate site manager safety training.

A Prohibition Notice was issued for work at height issues and an Improvement Notice was issued the next day for site manager safety training.

The court was told HSE had previously issued enforcement notices on Cartwright’s company in 2007 for work at height issues, and the company was warned at the time to look at its site manager safety training.

Both Cartwright and his site foreman had continued to work at the company without receiving this training.

Cartwright pleaded guilty to breaching safety regulations and was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs of £3,027.

HSE inspector Simon Breen said: “The dangers of working at height without adequate edge protection are very clear, yet companies and individuals continue to take risks and cut corners.

“Cartwright Construction was well aware of the precautions it should have taken but decided to ignore them.

“This case should serve as a warning to others that if you work without the right equipment and put workers at risk, you will end up in court.”