BUILDING sites in Bolton are being targeted during a week-long inspection blitz by Health and Safety inspectors. work on the sites will be stopped if problems are identified.

Vincent Joyce, principal inspector for Greater Manchester, said: "The number of workers killed in the construction industry is unacceptably high.

"Falling from height is the single biggest killer in construction, last year accounting for 44 per cent of all deaths. Solutions are well known and the controls required to prevent falls from height are not costly. We expect construction companies to get it right -- and if they don't we will take action.

The Government watchdog is carrying out the five-day construction check in Greater Manchester and Lancashire.

There were 114 fatal injures in construction between 1 April 200 and 31 March 2001, eight of which were to members of the public. A further 5,046 people suffered major injuries, 317 of which were members of the public.

A huge 44 per cent of accidents were caused by falls from height; 17 per cent struck by moving vehicles, eight per cent struck by falling or moving objects, 17 per cent after being trapped by something collapsing or overturning.