A BRICKLAYER plunged to his death through an unguarded school skylight, a court heard.

Barry Tyson, 52, was fatally injured when he fell more than seven feet on to a tiled floor because of a "tragic misjudgement" not to cover thin plastic on the flat roof.

Mr Tyson was working as a sub contractor for Watershed (Roofing) Ltd, of Thorncliffe Road, Manningham, Bradford, at Aspin Park Primary School in Knaresborough when he stepped backwards on to the skylight that collapsed under him.

The company and Steven Derham, of Winterton Drive, Low Moor, Bradford, were each sentenced at Bradford Crown Court yesterday for a single breach under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Watershed (Roofing) Ltd was fined £80,000 and Derham was handed a £7,000 fine.

Judge Peter Benson made an order for £39,000 prosecution costs that the company said it would pay.

Alex Offer, prosecutor for the Health & Safety Executive, said Mr Tyson, of Bradford, died in Leeds General Infirmary on August 17, 2011, the day after he fell through the skylight during re-felting work.

It was the second day that Mr Tyson, described as a much-loved father, step-father and grandfather, had been working at the site.

The court heard that Derham, a director at the company, at first decided the eight skylights should be removed and the spaces covered by plywood sheets but the domes were moulded in place so it was not practicable.

He then decided to leave them in place because they were "obvious and relatively small." He believed they were not big enough for a man to fall through.

Mr Offer said it was "a fateful decision".

The workmen, both sub contractors and the company's own employees, were warned to take care and avoid them.

Mr Offer said that nationally, 21 workers were killed between 2001 and 2010 by falling through roof lights.

"The risk posed in this case was clear and was known to both the company and Mr Derham," he told the court.

Mr Offer said that in 2004 a Prohibition Notice was served on the company at a different site for reasons including risk posed by an unguarded roof light.

Mark Balysz, barrister for Watershed (Roofing) Ltd, said the family firm had an excellent safety record.

It was established in 1982 and had 45 employees and a team of sub contractors.

It had won safety awards, worked for clients in the public sector and gave back to the community.

"The company is deeply sorry and has learned its lesson," Mr Balysz said.

Derham's barrister, Peter Smith, said he had known Mr Tyson a long time and considered him a friend.

"Mr Derham just wishes he could turn the clock back, it is as simple as that," Mr Smith said.

The court heard that Derham earned £48,000 a year and the company's annual profit was about £200,000.

Judge Benson said Mr Tyson was a hard working and much-loved man. Personal statements from his family made "heart rending reading".

Derham made "a tragic misjudgement" in deciding it was safe to work on the roof without guarding the skylights, he added.

Judge Benson said the company was very well run with an excellent safety record but on this occasion it fell well below the appropriate safety standards in a "unique departure" from its usual practices.

Mr Tyson left his wife Lesley, a son and a daughter, and a step son and a step daughter.