The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (HASAWA) gives safety inspectors powers to enforce safety standards among employers. As well as giving advice to employers and union safety reps, safety inspectors can take action against employers. This includes issuing:
- an Improvement Notice, requiring an employer to take action to put things right within a specified time; and
- a Prohibition Notice, requiring an employer to stop a hazardous operation if there is an immediate risk of danger to workers or to the general public.