Warehouse supervisor Peter Hutchinson, 60, was working for the logistics company Bertschi at its site at South Bank in Middlesbrough on 4 November 2021, when he fell approximately 5ft (1.5m) and hit his head.
Peter Hutchinson fell approximately 5ft (1.5m) and hit his head
The company was found guilty of breaching health and safety regulations at Teesside Crown Court and fined £425,000 and ordered to pay costs of £119,258.
His wife Karen Hutchinson said her husband was a family man and "everyone is still struggling to come to terms with their dad, uncle and friend not being here".
She said: ""To explain my feelings of loss is to try and explain the unthinkable – there are just simply no words.
"Peter was my husband and very best friend, he was my always and forever and he is my forever always."
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found Bertschi UK Limited failed to properly assess the risks associated with the loading operation and failed to adequately consider and control the risks arising from pedestrian use of mobile loading ramps.
The investigation found that employees were permitted to access the ramps without handrails in spite of the fact that the manufacturer of the ramp had specifically advised that pedestrians should not use the ramp unless handrails were fitted.
'Entirely preventable'
The company had denied three offences of failing to do its duty under health and safety laws, one of ensuring employees' health and safety and two relating to employees working at height.
But a jury unanimously convicted the firm of all counts.
HSE inspector Cain Mitchell said the death of Peter Hutchinson was "entirely preventable".
He said: "Employers should carefully assess work at height activities and always consider whether the task can be carried out without exposing workers to fall risks.
"This was a new activity - changes to established working practices can introduce new risks and employers must ensure those risks are identified and controlled before work begins.
"This prosecution should remind dutyholders that HSE will not hesitate to take enforcement action when workers are unnecessarily placed at risk."
