The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) carried out an investigation following an incident at British Airways Maintenance Cardiff Ltd on 10th November 2019.
The findings showed that the company had failed to adequately analyse the risks of working at height due to the removal of guard rails on the docking platform.
Iain Mawson, a British Airways Maintenance Cardiff Ltd employee, was placed into an induced coma for three weeks as a result of the fall. He suffered multiple skull fractures and a brain haemorrhage after falling from height whilst inspecting an aircrafts wings at a facility in Cardiff.
British Airways Maintenance Cardiff Ltd of Waterside, Harmondsworth, pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and has been fined £230,000 and ordered to pay costs of £21,623.
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Sara Lumley said: “This incident could so easily have been avoided by simply carrying out correct control measures and safe working practices. “Companies should be aware that HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against those that fall below the required standards.