A BUILDING firm and its owner have been slapped with heavy fines after an Ulverston man died when he fell through a roof while at work more than three years ago.

Jason Pennington was working on the roof at West Cumberland Farmers LTD, Lindal, on October 25, 2011.

The 42-year-old fell through the skylight from a height of approximately 7.6 meters onto a concrete floor. He was taken to Furness General Hospital where he died a short time later.

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Today at Preston Crown Court, Peter Mawson Ltd, was fined £200,000 after earlier admitting corporate manslaughter and also £20,000 for health and safety breaches.

Peter Mawson, owner of the company, was also sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for two years; 200 hours unpaid work; a publicity order to advertise what happened on the company website for a set period of time, and to take out a half page spread in the local newspaper; and pay costs of £31,504.77.

Mawson had earlier pleaded guilty to both ‘corporate manslaughter’ and a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

DS Paul Yates for Cumbria Constabulary said: "This has been a long and complex investigation, and we have worked closely with the Health and Safety Executive to establish what happened on that tragic day.

"I hope that this case serves as a warning to other businesses in Cumbria that health and safety measures are extremely important, and if not implemented correctly can result in devastating consequences.

“Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Pennington at this difficult time. Hopefully the sentencing today will provide some sort of closure, and they can be left to grieve in peace.”

Chris Hatton, the investigating inspector at HSE, added: “Jason tragically lost his life because the company that employed him did nothing to make sure he was safe while he worked on a fragile roof.

“Peter Mawson knew the clear panels on the roof weren’t safe to walk on but neither he nor his company provided any equipment to prevent workers falling to their death.

“If scaffolding or netting had been fitted under the fragile panels, or covers had been fitted over them, then Jason would still be here today.”