Westminster Magistrates’ Court heard how, on 4 November 2015, a Formation employee was using a concrete breaker at Tech West House in Acton to make an opening for a stairwell when he fell 7.5 metres, sustaining fatal head injuries.

An HSE investigation found the work was not properly planned, adequately supervised or carried out in a safe manner when the incident occurred.

Formation Construction Limited of Hackney Road, London, pleaded guilty to safety breaches and was fined £300,000 and ordered to pay £17,528 in costs.

Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Kevin Smith said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable incident, caused by the failure of the company to implement suitable and sufficient measures to prevent falls.

“The risks associated with work at height are well known throughout the construction industry.

“While, on paper, Formation Construction Limited had identified control measures which could have prevented this incident from occurring; in practise, these safeguards were virtually absent.

“Ultimately, the company failed to control the risk on site and as a result one of its workers fell to his death.”