Adrian Evens, Andrew Oliver and John Long have been fined a total of £5,000 after Mr David Pass suffered serious injuries in an accident when he fell eight meters through a barn roof in Greater Manchester.
The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted the three men following the accident on Fairy Lane in Sale on 20 June 2007.
Mr Pass, 28 from Droylsden, was standing on the roof of a former stable while removing corrugated panels, when he accidentally fell eight meters to the ground. He suffered serious injuries to his head and back, was in a coma for several days and was made partially blind in one eye.
An HSE investigation revealed how Mr Pass had not been provided with scaffolding or protection, but was expected to balance on the steel frame of the building while removing roof panels.
Trafford Magistrates' Court heard that Mr John Long, 62, who was the owner of the barn, had hired Andrew Oliver, 43, to carry out the work. Mr Oliver subcontracted the work to Adrian Evens, 35.
HSE Construction Inspector Ian Betley said:
"David could easily have been killed when he fell through a fragile roof panel. Workers at the site were expected to balance dangerously on the steel structure, while they knocked through bolts on fragile sheets. Clearly this was very dangerous.
"This case should act as a warning to construction companies about the dangers their employees and contractors face when they carry out work at height. Otherwise workers will continue to be injured or even killed [in accidents of this type]."
After pleading guilty for failing to ensure the safety of their employees, Mr Evens and Mr Oliver were both fined £2,000 and ordered to pay £2,000 each towards the cost of the prosecution. Mr Long, of Fairy Lane in Sale, was fined £1,000 with costs of £1,500.
Ian Betley added:
"All three men failed to plan the work safely in advance. Scaffolding, or a mobile work platform such as a scissor lift, should have been used to remove the corrugated sheets from underneath. There was no need to climb onto the roof."