The Health and Safety Executive for Northern Ireland (HSENI) is to carry out unannounced site visits to tackle a number of risks facing construction workers.

While there have been improvements in some areas, recent years have shown that construction workers are still dying due to avoidable accidents - this is not acceptable.

In addition, workers' general well-being is not being properly considered and as construction activity increases it is important that everyone in the industry makes health and safety their priority.

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The site visits will focus on key health and safety issues and during inspections HSENI inspectors will consider whether:

• the risks to health from exposure to dust such as silica are being adequately controlled (including the use of RPE and face fit tests for this)

• that the appropriate asbestos survey has been completed prior to any refurbishment or demolition work and is available on site

• jobs that involve working at height (WAH) have been properly planned to ensure that appropriate precautions are being used

• WAH equipment is correctly installed, assembled, inspected, maintained and used properly

• welfare facilities are adequate.

The visits are to start on 24 August.