Construction union UCATT has renewed its calls for a tough corporate manslaughter bill after nine construction workers were killed in the past month.

HSE statistics show nine fatalities occurred between 4 May and 3 June, making a total of 11 deaths since the start of the financial year in April. This is two more than the corresponding period last year, an increase that has prompted the union to call for tougher penalties on companies that breach health and safety requirements.

The government is to bring forward a corporate manslaughter bill during this parliament.

Just before the consultation period for the bill closed today, Alan Ritchie, the general secretary of UCATT, made an appeal for it to include tough penalties.

He said: “This scale of fatalities reinforces our demand for firm sentencing as part of the corporate manslaughter legislation.”

Ritchie added: “What is clear is that despite the noble words expressed at the safety summit in February, workers are still being killed.”