An inspector prefers to promote safe work by information and education. Primarily this involves helping employers and others to understand the value of safety to a successful business and therefore the importance of a systematic approach to it.

In an ideal world such safety education (or injury prevention) work would be all an Inspector was called upon to do. But incidents occur which result in reports or complaints to The Department and the inspector must then visit the particular work situation to investigate.

An inspector has the legal right to enter any workplace, to ask questions, gather information, and take samples. (It is an offence to obstruct or delay an Inspector in the course of performing his or her duties).

Once the inspector has ascertained the relevant facts there are a range of options open:

• Take no further action
• Talk to the person about their safety practices
• Write to the person about their safety practices
• Issue an improvement notice
• Issue an prohibition notice
• Issue an infringement notice
• For employee participation issues, seek a compliance order
• Commence prosecution action.