Plumbers liability insurance customers have been urged to seek health and safety advice after a London-based worker was prosecuted.
Leonard Gibson, a plumber from Enfield, was fined £10,000 and was ordered to pay £3,230 in costs after he pleaded guilty to a breach of Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
Harlow magistrates court heard how one of his employees, Ajet Krasniqi, 24, died when he was hit on the head by a reinforced steel joist which fell while he was working in Buckhurst Hill, Essex in October 2006.
Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Nicola Surrey said that this tragic incident could have been prevented if the employer had made sure his workers were not left exposed to unnecessary risks.
She added: "There is plenty of advice and guidance available from the HSE to help people comply with the law and keep workers safe. However, for those who fall short of the law, the HSE will not hesitate to take action."
Recently, plumbers liability insurance customers were warned that tackling any industry complacency is at the top of the HSE's priority list.