Safety body planning inspection blitz on building sites

The Health and Safety Authority has announced plans to mount an inspection blitz on Ireland's building sites this summer.

The authority said more than 1,000 inspectors would be involved in the initiative, which is designed to improve safety in the construction industry.

Ten people have died already this year in construction-related accidents, while thousands more have been injured.

Tom Beegan, the chief executive of the Health and Safety Authority, said this summer's blitz would focus on smaller contractors who seem to have a poor safety record.

"We are quite convinced that the larger employers that have the systems in place have a better track record in relation to health and safety.

"We're now focusing in on the small builder and the small sub-contractor because it would appear to use that they are over-represented in the figures and therefore we will do whatever we can to ensure that they employ proper health and safety practices in every site."