THE Health and Safety Executive (HSE) will carry out a three-day blitz on construction sites in the West Midlands this month.

It continues the 12-month national rolling programme planned by the Government agency's new construction division.

HSE inspectors will descend on building sites in different parts of the country in a bid to cut down on the toll of deaths and injuries on badly run ones.

Out of the 291 work-related deaths last year, 106 were on construction sites.

A team of 22 inspectors from the construction division and other parts of HSE will be involved.

They will visit both small and large sites across the area and could stop work on sites where poor standards are found.

"The number of workers killed in the construction industry is unacceptably high," said Carol Southerd, organising inspector.

"We will concentrate on roof work and on falls from height, particularly on smaller jobs such as domestic roof repair.

"We will deal strongly with poor standards and may take enforcement action, including prosecutions, against those who flout health, safety and welfare law.

"We will also be looking at the underlying issues, especially training and competence, and will require firms to achieve longer-term improvements.

"The industry must improve standards if it is to meet the Health and Safety targets it has set."