Over one in three construction sites visited put the lives of workers at risk, says the chief executive of the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Geoffrey Podger said this month that HSE inspectors served 395 enforcement notices and stopped work on 30% of the refurbishment sites across the UK, where over 1,000 spot checks were carried out.

"We stopped work on site immediately during approximately 300 inspections because we felt there was a real possibility that life would be lost or ruined through serious injury," Podger said.

During the spot checks that were part of HSE's inspection programme targeting the construction industry's poor performing sectors, HSE inspectors reported that issues like work at height were a big concern. Over half of the enforcement action taken during the inspection initiative was against dangerous work at height, which led to 23 fatalities in 2007.

In 2007, over half of the workers who died on construction sites worked in refurbishment and the number of deaths on refurbishment sites rose by 61% over the previous year.

During the spot checks in February, HSE inspections looked at whether equipment was correctly installed, maintained and used; sites were well organised; walkways and stairs were obstruction-free; work areas were clear of unnecessary materials and waste; the workforce was aware of risk control measures; and whether jobs involving work at height had been identified and properly planned.

Podger warned the refurbishment sector that HSE would not tolerate negligence or poor safety standards on construction sites.

"It is totally unacceptable that so many lives have been put at risk and we will take all action necessary to protect workers including closing sites and prosectuing those responsible," he said. "The construction industry should take ownership of this issue and do more to tackle poor standards on sites."