Each year health and safety inspectors visit about 5,000 workplaces. These are proactive, planned visits – they are not usually triggered by a report of serious harm or a health and safety complaint.

In selecting which workplaces to inspect regional offices take the following factors into account:

• The likely hazard profile of a particular workplace,
• The scale of potential or actual harm,
• Knowledge of the workplace’s past health and safety performance, and
• Identifed Priority areas.

Any action taken by a health and safety inspector during a workplace visit will depend on the circumstances. If workplaces have effective health and safety systems or the issue is minor, the inspector may offer information and advice. If more serious breaches of the law are observed, the inspector will use enforcement interventions.