MANY of the North West's industrial deaths were the result of preventable accidents, says the Health and Safety Executive.

Boss David Ashton says many of the 31 deaths of North West workers in 2005-06 could have been prevented by simple and sensible precautions.

'Year after year, the same underlying trends appear in our fatal accidents statistics - and the tragedy is that deaths such as these could be avoided,' he said.

'If we could eliminate just two of the causes - falling from a height and being struck either by site vehicles or by their loads or other materials falling on them - around two thirds of those people would still be alive today.'

Deaths included seven people who were run over or crushed by lorries or other vehicles and another who was crushed between a cherry picker and a roof.

Five people fell from roofs or windows or into unguarded holes. Many deaths also involved falls from height.

Elsewhere in the North West, two people were involved in explosions and another was electrocuted.

In factory accidents, people were crushed by an overturning vehicle, loaded pallets and falling containers.