Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspectors carried out checks at 163 construction sites in Manchester, Salford and Trafford during two days of intensive inspections.

They issued a total of 56 enforcement notices at 42 sites, either stopping work immediately or requiring improvements to be made. Some construction companies may face being prosecuted. Nearly half of the enforcement notices concerned unsafe work being carried out at height. Other issues included dust, unsafe electrics and the general state of sites.

Newly released figures from HSE show there were 498 serious injuries and one death on construction sites in Greater Manchester last year. There were also 45 serious injuries and one death in Warrington.

The intensive inspections took place as part of a month-long HSE initiative aimed at stopping dangerous practices on building sites across Great Britain. HSE wants to raise awareness of construction site risks to prevent deaths and injuries in the future.

Construction remains one of Britain's most dangerous industries, with five deaths and 1,339 serious injuries in the North West during 2008/9.

The national inspection initiative is focusing on refurbishment, including roofing work. Inspectors are making unannounced visits to ensure that sites are managing refurbishment work, including work at height, safely and that sites are in good order.