Public liability insurance holders have been warned about the dangers of working at height after the prosecution of a contractor.
Ian Brian Griffiths, 41, of Theodore Close, Oldbury, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1)c and 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.
He also admitted a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £1,408 in costs.
Birmingham magistrates court was told how Craig Richard Thomas, 35, from Wolverhampton and Paul Leggett, 28, from Oldbury, were working on the roof on an industrial unit in Birmingham when the accident happened.
Mr Leggett lost his balance on a crawling board and fell through the roof, braking his leg, ankle, wrist and nose in the incident.
Mike Ford, Health and Safety Executive inspector, said that Mr Leggett was lucky to be alive after falling 26 ft.
"Working at height remains a major cause of death and injury at work in Great Britain. Employers must ensure the correct precautions are taken and the right equipment is used," he added.
Last month, two construction firms were fined a total of £126,000 for their role in a scaffolding collapse, which left one man dead and two others seriously injured.
McAleer & Rushe of Northern Ireland and Lee Smith Carpentry pleaded guilty to breaches of health and safety rules and were prosecuted by Huntingdon Crown Court.