Sukhdev Kundi was working on a stepladder on the first floor of the property when the incident happened on 30 May 2012. As he was pulling cables, he fell off the ladder and through an opening, landing 4 m below.
Kundi broke his spine in three places and was paralysed from the chest down. He spent three months in a coma and a total of 12 months in hospital. He died in May 2015, with the cause of death being respiratory failure due to a collapsed lung and pneumonia alongside his spinal injuries and paraplegia.
A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found that the developer, Meadows WR of City Road, London, had failed to plan, manage and monitor the work to the standard required.
Meadows WR pleaded guilty to breaching reg 22(1) of the Construction (Design Management) Regulations 2007. It was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay costs of the same amount.
The prosecution follows a related hearing at which a jury unanimously acquitted Luton builder Samuel Harrington of a charge of failing to ensure the safety of tradesmen carrying out work at the property conversion.
