Barnet Homes has been fined for safety failings after a heating engineer died on one of its housing estates.

Alan Young, 68, from South Mead, Barnet, died from severe head injuries while working in the Grahame Park estate boiler house in August 2011.

He was working alone when he fell from scaffolding.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigated and prosecuted Barnet Homes.

Barnet Homes, which provides housing for Barnet Borough Council, was fined £37,000 yesterday at Southwark Crown Court, and ordered to pay £75,000 in full costs after admitting a breach of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The court heard earlier this week that Mr Young had been in charge of the Grahame Park estate boiler house for 21 years with Barnet Homes, and before that with Barnet Council.

His body was discovered on August 9, 2011.

There were no eye witnesses, but the evidence was that Mr Young had been using a combination of fixed and mobile tower scaffolding and a ladder.

HSE found the mobile scaffold had not been erected properly, had missing guard rails and did not have any wheel brakes. The ladder was not secured and Mr Young’s immediate supervisor was unaware of the presence of the fixed scaffolding.

HSE also identified the company failed to prepare a proper risk assessment.

Barnet Homes Ltd accepted that within the boiler house Mr Young had unrestricted access to a ladder and to a mobile tower scaffold, and that he had not received appropriate training.

The company also accepted that it did not have adequate arrangements for the control of maintenance work, and that this breach was a cause of Mr Young’s death.

Judge Michael Grieve said a substantial fine was necessary to reflect the seriousness of the offence and death, and as a message that public bodies, however short of funds, must comply with the same standards of health and safety as private organisations.

After sentencing, HSE Inspector Charles Linfoot said: “This was a distressing incident, particularly for the workers who discovered Mr Young’s body, and our investigation concluded that it was entirely preventable.

“Barnet Homes has an obligation to provide suitable and sufficient measures to protect its workers during the course of their employment. Working at height poses particular risks and yet it was clear Barnet Homes did not assess the risks. Had they done so, there would have been a suitable work platform provided so Mr Young could carry out his work in safety.”

Tracey Lees, Barnet Homes’ chief executive, said: “This was a tragic accident and our sincerest condolences go out to Alan Young’s family. We pleaded guilty to breach of duties in January this year because we accept that our failings contributed to the accident and we have since overhauled all areas of health and safety.

“As Judge Michael Grieve confirmed, Alan Young carried out his duties diligently and invested personal pride in his performance but no one could have foreseen that this isolated incident would have occurred and had the tragic consequences it did."