Property owners taking to their roof for the installation of chimney cowls should be aware of the dangers of working at height, according to an expert.
Lee Greatorex, an inspector for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), said that roofing work requires "careful planning and assessment of the risk involved".
His words came after Nottingham Magistrates' Court fined Michael Hallwood and his son Michael Thomas Hallwood, both partners in Cladding Coatings, after a worker was caught on camera carrying out a job on top of an industrial unit without any safety equipment.
"Falls from height are the biggest cause of workplace deaths and it’s crucial that employers make sure work is properly planned, appropriately supervised and that sufficient measures are put in place to protect staff from the risks," added the HSE inspector.
Mr Hallwood and his son both pleaded guilty to breaching Section 4(1)(c) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005 and were fined £2,500 each with costs of £2,604 between them.
According to the HSE, more than 4,000 employees suffered major injuries last year after falling from height while working.