CONSTRUCTION sites in Wiltshire are getting safer.

Figures released this week show the number of serious injuries has fallen in the past year.

In 2002-03 the county's construction industry saw 69 major injuries, compared with 101 the previous year.

There have been no fatalities for the past two years.

A spokeswoman for the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) said: "It is a good sign that there has been a reduction in the number of injuries, but any injuries are bad news and we are striving to get them even lower.

"Serious injuries can sometimes result in people not being able to work for the rest of their lives."

During a blitz of inspections of construction sites in the Swindon area in September the HSE found three companies fell short of its health and safety standards.

Inspectors issued the firms with prohibition notices ordering them to rectify the perceived problems.

"Normally the HSE will serve prohibition notices to ask companies to change something which might be a serious risk to someone on the site," said the HSE spokeswoman.

"If they don't comply they might face a court appearance."

The three companies were Redrow Homes, E&H Dryling and Ferndown Demolition and Salvage Ltd.

Melksham-based drylining and plastering contractor E&H Dryling was given a notice for using a floor screeding pump without a protective guard.

"We think it was an over-reaction to the situation," said managing director Steve Harbour.

"It could have been a life threatening situation but it wasn't a major sort of incident."

Mr Harbour said the company spent a lot of time and money on health and safety and took it very seriously.

Bournemouth-based Ferndown Demolition was given a notice for using a 360 excavator machine without a mirror on a site in Purton Stoke.

Jan Overton, the company's business development manager, said: "The mirror was broken but it wasn't really an issue because there was a banksman to keep people away from the machine.

"We didn't take it to be a risk, but it was fixed straight away.

"It was quite petty but they have a job to do and guidelines to follow."

The company had its own health and safety policy 100 pages thick, said Mr Overton.

Bristol-based Redrow Homes, which was given a prohibition notice in connection with a site it was operating in Abbey Manor in Swindon, said measures had been put in place to prevent such an incident from happening again.

"The prohibition order was issued for an incident involving one of our sub-contractors," said a spokeswoman.

"The situation was rectified quickly but nevertheless correct procedures were not adhered to."

The HSE spokeswoman said the prohibition notices given to the Swindon companies had been complied with and the problems rectified. No further action was necessary.