THE mother of a steeplejack who died in a chimney fire has urged the Government not to make cuts to the Health and Safety Executive.

Linda Whelan’s son Craig, 23, and coworker Paul Wakefield, 40, were killed nine years ago by a fireball in an industrial chimney.

The pair died when steel cables melted, sending their hoist crashing 100ft to the ground.

Three factory managers were fined £17,000 for safety breaches, although a judge said they had not deliberately cut costs at the expense of health and safety.

Since his death, Mrs Whelan, from Willington, County Durham, has been campaigning for improved workplace safety and said Government plans to cut the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) budget by 35 per cent before 2015 would have devastating consequences, including 11,000 fewer workplace inspections by the HSE each year.

Mrs Whelan said: “Critics say health and safety has gone mad and that it’s a burden on businesses.

“I think a much bigger burden is when a business loses an employee through injury, illness or even death which could have been avoided.”

Mrs Whelan marked Worker’s Memorial Day last week by organising a march through neighbouring Stanley Crook for families to remember their loved ones who have died at work and to campaign for improved safety.

Ms Whelan warned that cuts in health and safety regulation would be a retrograde step.

She said: “Health and safety has come a long way, but with these cuts we will be going backwards.

“I am a businesswoman and know regulations can be a bit of a nuisance, but they are essential in protecting workers.

“Craig died due to a lack of safety and risk assessments.”

Industrial lawyers have also warned about the impact cutting regulations could have.

Roger Maddocks, from law firm Irwin Mitchell, said: “While most employers are responsible and take the safety of their staff seriously, it must not be left to chance that they will all stick to the rules and regulations.

“There is also the concern that less scrupulous or rogue employers will spot the opportunity to cut even more corners on safety and yet more innocent lives could be lost at work.”