DEATHS in the construction industry leaped last year coinciding with cuts to vital unannounced Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspections.

Construction union Ucatt revealed yesterday that five workers were killed in north-west England last year, compared with two in 2013.

The deaths coincide with a 13 per cent fall in unannounced site inspections, with inspectors making 1,192 last year compared with 1,370 the previous year after ministers slashed HSE funding by 35 per cent.

Ucatt described last year’s death toll in north-west England as “the worst we have ever seen.”

Regional secretary Andy Fisher said the fall in inspections was deeply alarming.

He said: “Far too many construction employers pay lip service to safety laws and the threat of an inspection is often the best guarantee of a worker’s safety being protected.”

Two people were killed on January 21 last year as they were removing the roof of a warehouse they were demolishing in Stockport.

At 9.15am a worker fell through the roof and was rushed to hospital but bosses ordered work to continue.

Then at 3.55pm 42-year-old Scott Harrower also fell through the roof. He died in hospital.

Mr Fisher added: “With construction starting to emerge from the depths of the recession it is essential that inspection activity increases to meet demand. HSE inspections save lives and reduce serious injuries.”