A Southend-based firm has been fined after a painter fell, leaving him unable to work for more than two years, public liability insurance holders have been told.
Air Livery, based at Southend Airport, pleaded guilty to breaches under Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. It was fined £2,400 and ordered to pay costs of £9,162.54.
Bristol magistrates court was told how Robert Lupton, 44, from Bristol, was working with a colleague to wrap a plane's wing in plastic sheeting to protect it from paint stripper.
However, he fell five metres to the hanger floor below, breaking his left elbow and badly damaging ligaments.
Christine Haberfield, Health and Safety Executive inspector, told painters liability insurance holders that the firm should have taken the necessary steps to protect its workers from falls.
"Everything may have appeared okay on paper but the practice on the ground encouraged painters to work ahead of themselves and without adequate protection. In this respect, this was an accident waiting to happen," she added.
Earlier this month, ECH, trading as Maple Timber Frames, was fined a total of £16,000 after a worker suffered injuries in a fall.