DEATHS in construction are still regarded as an occupational hazard, Unite said as a bereaved family criticised a delayed probe into how a crane collapse killed an elderly woman at her home.

Saturday marks the three-year anniversary since June Harvey, 85, was found dead after a 65ft crane crashed down in Bow, east London.

Ms Harvey’s niece, Jacqueline Atkinson, 66, and her son Sam Atkinson, 31, said they felt “let down” by the “lack of answers” from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation into her death.

“The wait for the conclusion to the investigation has been agonising,” Mr Atikinson told the BBC.

Unite national officer Jerry Swain told the Morning Star: “There is a fundamental problem with investigations following serious construction accidents, they invariably take far too long. Justice delayed is similar to justice denied.

“If this was any other sector, there would be a huge outcry that three years after this terrible tragedy we still do not know what happened, let alone a prosecution of anyone responsible.

“Deaths in construction must stop being regarded as a occupational hazard.”

HSE inspector Gordon Nixon said: “This has been a challenging and thorough investigation while good progress has been made, inquiries are ongoing.”

The Met Police said the investigation was ongoing and it had nothing more to add.

HSE figures this week revealed annual construction worker deaths rose sharply to 45 in the last financial year.

Labour MP for Poplar and Limehouse Apsana Begum tabled an early day motion for the Commons to mark the three-year anniversary since Ms Harvey’s tragic death by paying “tribute to construction safety campaigns, largely led by bereaved relatives and trade unions” and to call “on the government to ensure that legislation and guidance regulating cranes are robust and that the HSE has the resources for vigorous enforcement.”