AN abattoir in Colne has been fined £15,000 after a plumber fell through the roof.

Reedley magistrates heard Neerock Ltd, Whitewall Industrial Estate, which is part of Morrison's, had not carried out a risk assessment before sending Paul Needham up to remove roofing sheets.

He fell five metres and health and safety inspector Sheldon Taylor, prosecuting, said Mr Needham could have died.

Speaking after the case, Mr Taylor said: "There were 67 people killed as a result from falls from height last year.

"This was preventable," he added.

Mr Needham and a colleague were removing roofing sheets to make way for new water tanks which were to be lowered in by crane.

The men carried a crawling board on to the roof and were on their way down to get a second board when the roof gave way.

Mr Needham's fall was broken by pipework and he suffered cuts and bruises.

Neerock Ltd, known locally as Woodhead Bros, pleaded guilty to two charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The company was fined £12,000 for failing to ensure the safety of an employee and £3,000 for failing to make a suitable risk assessment.

It also has to pay the Health and Safety Executive £2,193 costs.

Chairman of the bench Roy Cunliffe said: "Neerock has failed to fulfil its duties under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

"Since the accident it has fully co-operated with the Health and Safety Executive and Neerock has put in place new procedures.

"They have also agreed only expert contractors will be used for this type of work in future."

A spokesman for Morrison's said the site was now under the control of the company's central health and safety team.

"The central health and safety team has carried out a full and thorough risk assessment of the site and a review of the working procedures.

"Following this review, we have brought measures to improve safety at the site, including a complete overhaul of health and safety training."