AN accident in which a handyman fractured his skull when he fell at work has resulted in a £21,000 fine for his employers.

The owners of the Marton Hotel and Country Club, in Middlesbrough, pleaded guilty at Teesside Magistrates' Court to five offences under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Frederick George Bavin received the head injury in October last year when he fell while painting a high-level ventilation canopy in the kitchen.

The unconscious worker was taken by ambulance to hospital where he was found to have a fractured skull. He has been unable to return to work since.

The incident was investigated by environmental health officers from Middlesbrough Council's community protection service.

They found that serious breaches of health and safety laws had occurred and prosecuted the hotel's owner, Marton Country Club Limited.

After the court case, senior environmental health officer Ken Cummins said: "The investigation into this accident revealed that the hotel owners had not carried out risk assessments for the job to be undertaken.

"We also learnt Mr Bavin had not received any formal health and safety training in the 18 years he had worked for the company. Officers from the community protection service had issued previous warnings to the company on these matters.

"This accident clearly highlights the dangers of working at height and of the importance for employers to risk-assess work tasks beforehand, in order to ensure that the appropriate safety measures are taken. This accident could very well have resulted in the death of the employee."

Councillor Barry Coppinger, executive member for community safety and leisure, said: "Formal action over this incident was well merited, in view of the injuries sustained and the negligence displayed by the employer.

"Officers will continue to take a robust approach to enforcement to ensure the health and safety of people at work in Middlesbrough. The law sets out the minimum standards needed for employers to protect the health and safety of their workforce. Failure to accept this legal responsibility puts workers' lives at risk."

As well as the fine, hotel bosses were also ordered to pay costs totalling £1,263.

No one from the hotel was available for comment last night