Health as well as safety is the message being taken to contractors as inspectors stage a series of unannounced visits across the country.

Inspections will pay particular attention to the threats posed by harmful dusts such as silica and asbestos and other hazardous substances.

Philip White, HSE Chief Inspector of Construction, said: “Industry has made much progress in reducing the number of people killed and injured in its activities, but for every fatal accident, approximately 100 construction workers die from a work-related cancer.”

During the last health initiative action was taken on one in six sites.

WHite said: “Time and again we find smaller contractors working on refurbishment and repair work failing to protect their workers through a lack of awareness and poor control of risks.

“This isn’t acceptable – it costs lives, and we will take strong and robust action where we find poor practice and risky behaviour.

“Through campaigns like this we aim to ensure contractors take all risks to their workers seriously, and not just focus on immediate safety implications. They need to put in place practical measures to keep workers both safe and well”