The Health and Safety Executive has launched an initiative to reduce accidents on small construction sites.

The High 5 leaflet, produced by the HSE's Working Well Together campaign, was prompted by HSE research showing that 75% of deaths and injuries on site happen to self-employed workers or those who work for a small business.

These businesses, containing 15 employees or fewer, make up 98% of the construction industry.

The High 5 initiative follows two separate incidents reported in Building last week, in which two workers died after falls on site.

The leaflet deals with five key hazards on site: untidy sites, falls from height, manual injuries caused by working with heavy materials, accidents involving transport and asbestos.

The campaign was launched by HSE principal inspector Ray Cooke last week at a safety awareness day held at Aston Villa FC in Birmingham.

He said: "Construction is a high-risk industry. Following the advice in High 5 will help to keep you safe and healthy."

The HSE aims to reduce fatalities and major injuries 40% by 2004/5 and two-thirds by 2009/10.