The dangers of working at height have been highlighted to painters liability insurance holders after a steeplejack firm was prosecuted.
Rafferty Chimneys Engineering, of Nash Peake Street, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and was fined £8,000 with costs of £5,000.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Magistrates heard how the firm had been contracted to inspect four 20-metre tall steel chimneys at Churchill China.
However, Kevin Ford, an employee, fell one-and-a-half metres to the ground causing a serious injury to his heel, which left him in plaster for four months.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) revealed that the tower's guard rail was too low, and it did not use the right boards, while no toe boards were in place.
Guy Dale, HSE inspector, commented: "Working at height is the most common cause of workplace injuries and this incident shows the very real dangers, no matter what the distance to the ground."
According to the HSE, over 4,000 employees suffered a major injury after falling from height in 2008/09.