HBR pleaded guilty at York Magistrates' Court for failing to prevent the fall of a contractor.
 
The contractor, who worked for AMG, was installing a compressor when he fell through a hole in the floor left by the removal of a dust extractor. He fell to the floor two metres below, pulling the equipment weighing 120 kg on top of him. As a result his pelvis and spine were fractured in several places.
 
HSE Inspector Andrea Lowe, who investigated the case, said: "The company failed to plan or supervise the work, and did not consider maintenance and the risks that would be involved in future work at height. It is a basic requirement, when looking at any such project, to 'plan to avoid' such work - in this case, for example, they should have considered the viability of siting the compressor at ground floor level.
 
"The company has now covered the hole in the floor, but unfortunately it has taken a life-threatening event to bring about a common-sense decision."