Inspectors from the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) visited 167 sites in the two counties between 20 and 24 February and found that 32 had working practices that put workers at risk.
During the visits in Merseyside and Cheshire, part of a nationwide campaign, HSE inspectors issued 29 prohibition notices, stopping work immediately, and 15 improvement notices, demanding changes. Half of the notices related to unsafe working at height.
HSE principal inspector Neil Jamieson said: "The majority of the sites we visited were meeting acceptable standards but sadly one in five weren't, putting the lives and health of workers at risk.
"The fact that half of the enforcement notices we issued related to work at height shows that companies still aren't doing enough to tackle one of the biggest causes of death and major injury in the sector.
"Implementing simple, inexpensive changes, or just a moment of extra thought, could prevent someone being killed or seriously injured. Employers should create an atmosphere where workers can raise concerns without fearing for their jobs."
Got a story? Email news@theconstructionindex.co.uk
