Following the revelation last week that the number of convictions for construction deaths fell by 75 per cent last year, corporate manslaughter legislation is expected to toughen up, according to lawyers.

The number of fatalities in the construction industry will rise to a five-year high if the trend continues, according to figures released by the Health and Safety Executive.

Law firm DWF claims that the statistics will probably jolt the authorities into taking tougher action.

Steffan Groch, a health and safety partner at DWF, says: "These latest figures will increase public pressure for employers to be held accountable for deaths at work and for the government to speed up the passage of the corporate manslaughter and corporate homicide bill through parliament."

Not only would this mean that the number of convictions would rise, but as Mr Groch explained, the fines are to go up too.

He said: "A further sting in the tail is that at the same time the increased figures for workplace fatalities hit the news, MPs were being asked by Wayne David, Labour MP for Caerphilly, in his Health and Safety Offences Bill, to raise the maximum fine that may be awarded in the lower courts from £5000 to £20,000. This would undoubtedly increase the levels of fines for most, if not all health and safety offences."

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