Health and safety checks launched as man fights for life

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is investigating possible health and safety breaches at a construction site in Bristol after an employee was left fighting for his life after being hit by an object.

A 35-year-old engineer was taken to Frenchay Hospital in the city after he was struck by an unknown item while working at the bottom of a lift shaft, thisisbristol.co.uk reports.

Work has since been stopped on the site while the HSE investigates any potential breaches of health and safety regulations.

A spokesperson for Miller Construction, the company which is converting the former Bristol and West Tower into a hotel, told the newspaper bosses took their health and safety obligations seriously.

"Health and safety is of the utmost importance to Miller Construction and we have closed the entire site in order to assist the Health and Safety Executive and the emergency services," the representative said.

Over 2,800 employees have been killed on construction sites in the last 25 years, according to statistics from the HSE.