The 40-year-old man from Southport was working on a project to refurbish a corner shop and construct four one-bedroom houses when he fell three metres from the first to the ground floor.

Principal contractor Frank Rogers (Building Contractor) Ltd has appeared in court following the accident in Widnes on May 3 2011.

Warrington Magistrates’ Court heard there were no internal staircase in the building, so workers had to climb up a ladder or through a window opening from scaffolding to access the first floor.

The bricklayer tripped as he stepped from the window onto a trestle on the floor, and fell between the exposed joists. He suffered a brief loss of consciousness and a broken back.

Frank Rogers (Building Contractors) pleaded guilty to a breach of the Work at Height Regulations and was fined £13,500 and ordered to pay £7,509 in prosecution costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE Inspector Dr Tom Baldwin said: “Luckily the bricklayer has made a good recovery, but a fall of that distance could have resulted in him suffering permanent injuries or even being killed.

“Frank Rogers (Building Contractors) Ltd didn’t consider the risks of workers being injured in a fall ahead of the work starting and, as a result, no measures were put in place to prevent falls.

“If the company had taken simple safety measures, such as covering the joists with wooden boards, then lives would not have been put at risk.”