The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Ovenpride Wholesale and its site manager Amjad Mahmood for failing to provide a safe system of work which, led to the death of casual handyman Rocco Carofalo.
The City of London Magistrates' Court heard on the morning of April 22 2009 Carofalo was asked to build shelving in the storeroom of the Finchley Road bakery by Mahmood. During the morning, Carofalo had stood on a stepladder while working on the shelving using tools and materials provided by Ovenpride.
At about noon, he was found lying on the floor bleeding from a severe head wound, with the stepladder beside him. He died as a result of his injuries on June 23.
After the hearing, Charles Linfoot, HSE's inspector said: "The consequences of this tragic incident will be felt by Mr Carofalo's family for ever but it was so easily preventable. As the risk of a fall was foreseeable, Ovenpride and its manager should have carried out a full site-specific risk assessment and planned and organised the work to be carried out in a safe manner.
"Where access to heights is required, even for relatively short term work, they are ultimately responsible for assessing and planning the work and ensuring that it is carried out in a safe manner using suitable access equipment."
In addition to Ovenpride's fine, Mahmood was fined £300 and ordered to pay costs of £200.
Ovenpride's fine reflects the fact that the firm is now in liquidation, said a HSE spokesperson.