The 56-year-old self-employed worker suffered a serious head injury and permanent personality changes after the accident at a site in Abbots Leigh, near Bristol.

North Somerset Magistrates’ Court heard that Paul Hinton of Bristol had been hired by Elegance Building Contractors Ltd. to work at a domestic property on September 6 2010.

Work included raising the roof level of the building and cladding part of the property with feature stonework.

Hinton was airlifted to hospital by air ambulance and was off work until early May 2011.

The company used subcontractors for the work but failed to ensure brick guards were installed on the scaffolding, which are designed to stop materials falling below.

Speaking after the case, Health and Safety Executive Inspector, Mark Renouf, said: “This tragic incident could easily have been avoided if the brick guards or similar had been fitted to the scaffold.

“Mr Hinton has suffered major injuries and the incident could very well have led to a fatality. The use of hard hats was not common on this site however the greater failing is not stopping materials from falling in the first place.

“Building companies must learn from this case and make sure basic safety precautions are observed on sites.”

Elegance Building Contractors Ltd, of Princess Victoria Street, Bristol was fined £6,000 and ordered to pay costs of £4,733.