AN award-winning construction firm whose two steel erectors fell while working at an Imperial War Museum extension killing one of them, was fined £75,000 and ordered to pay £9,000 costs at the Old Bailey.

William Hare Ltd --Steelwork Contractor of the Year 2002 -- of Brandlesholme Road, Bury, admitted failing to ensure the safety of all its employees including Brian Rights, aged 56, of Norwich, who died, and Richard Bartram, of Ipswich, between March 30 and April 2, 1998.

Both men had been using a ladder and a staging board about 40 feet high for a task on April 2, having previously used the same equipment on previous days.

Mr Knights, of Newton Street, Newton St Faith, Norwich, fell to the ground, while Mr Bartram, of Felix Road, Ipswich, landed on the decking on the floor below, receiving only bruising.

Miss Victoria Atkins, for the Health and Safety Executive, said: "It was an unsafe system of working -- not a case where workers had deviated from the method statement."

An unlawful killing verdict was returned at an inquest in May 1999, but the CPS decided there was insufficient evidence to bring a prosecution for manslaughter.

Mr Knights' widow, Beverly, of the same address, who attended the hearing on Wednesday and Thursday, wept after Judge Anthony Morris QC announced the fine and costs.

Describing the events leading to the fall, Judge Morris said: "There were a number of failings in relation to the ladder and staging board that were manifestly an unsafe system of work.

"No fine can compensate Mr Knights' family for their untimely loss and it is not the measure of the value of a life."

Costs of £9,162.80 were ordered after the Judge said it had been hanging over the company for four and a half years. The firm had received many awards and had a good safety record.

"I am satisfied it was an isolated breach occurred at low level of the operation. Recent health and safety checks of their sites have brought no criticism and no suggested improvements.

"Recently they were held up by the Health and Safety Executive of good safety practice, and have taken steps to rectify any difficulties."

Earlier Mr Andrew Moran QC, defending, told the Judge about the safety award for 2002 as well as others provided by ROSPA and the British Safety Council.

He said statistics show a very low rate of accident at the firm and although they accept on this occasion they fell below safety standards it was not "well below".