The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it aims to inspect refurbishment sites across Wales throughout February, to tackle poor safety standards.

Last year over half of the workers who died on construction sites worked in refurbishment, and the number of deaths on refurbishment sites rose by 61%.

There were five deaths in construction in Wales in 2006/07, and three of those were in relation to refurbishment work.

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Working at height, which last year killed 23 construction workers, and good site order will be the focus of inspections and contractors can expect strong enforcement action.

HSE's Principal Inspector for Construction in Wales, Chantal Nicholls, said: "It is totally unacceptable that so many lives have been lost and continue to be put at risk on construction sites, particularly within the refurbishment sector.

"We will continue to take firm action against rogue elements who ignore safety precautions. Sites where health and safety is taken seriously have nothing to fear, but we will root out those that put lives at risk."

(JM)