In the latest incident, a worker on a Kier Western site at Cattedown Enterprise Centre was hit on the head by a skip or pallet of bricks, according to the Plymouth Herald. It is believed that the man was walking under a telehandler carrying the bricks when the accident happened.

A Kier Western said on Friday 14th September: "We confirm that a fatality occurred early this morning at our Cattedown Enterprise site in Plymouth when an employee was struck during an operation involving a telescopic handler.

"We are co-operating with the authorities in trying to establish exactly what happened. We are deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic situation involving a Kier employee and our thoughts are with his family and the site team."

The accident follows the death the day before of an 18-year-old who was also hit by bricks, which this time fell from a lorry-mounted crane while he was underneath it. Gareth Ritson from died at around 9am yesterday in Troon, Ayrshire. Police said the bricks were being lifted by a lorry when they fell. Ritson, who lived in Rowan Place, Troon, was working for a local building firm.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is understood to be investigating both accidents.