JBB Homes Ltd of St. Petersgate, Stockport in Cheshire – which has subsequently gone into liquidation – was fined £20,000 and ordered to pay costs of £10,835.

Company director, James Burt, based at the same address in Stockport was fined £10,000.

Llandudno Magistrates’ Court heard that builder Nicholas Roberts, 28 years old from Rhyl, was working on scaffolding at a site in Gwylanedd, The Promenade, Llanfairfechan on 4 December 2007 when the incident happened.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation found that Roberts was carrying out work to replace a lintel, when he fell from the scaffolding.

He fractured his pelvis in three places, broke some teeth and bruised his pelvis and groin.

Following the hearing HSE Inspector, Debbie John, said: “Falling from a height of around nine metres, Mr Roberts was extremely lucky to survive. It’s incredible that he managed to walk away with broken bones.

“JBB Homes Limited and James Burt failed in their duty to provide a safe system of work, including a lack of suitable means to prevent falls from the scaffolding. Mr Burt also failed to properly supervise his staff.”

“Falls from height remain the single biggest cause of workplace deaths and one of the main causes of major injury and construction companies must not leave safety of their workers as an after-thought, which could lead to tragic consequences.”