Prohibition notice
A formal enforcement notice issued by an inspector prohibiting an activity that involves or is likely to involve a risk of serious personal injury, taking immediate or deferred effect.
By jurisdiction
UK HSE
“prohibition notice”Exact equivalentSection 22 of HSWA 1974 empowers an inspector to issue a prohibition notice where activities are being or are about to be carried on that involve or will involve a risk of serious personal injury. A deferred notice takes effect after a specified time; an immediate notice stops the activity at once.
Irish HSA
“prohibition notice”Close equivalentSection 66 of the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 empowers an inspector to issue a prohibition notice prohibiting the carrying on of any activity that involves a risk of serious injury or death. The notice takes immediate effect.
US OSHA
“imminent danger notice”Partial equivalentOSHA may seek a court order to restrain imminent dangers under section 13 of the OSH Act 1970. Unlike UK and Irish prohibition notices, OSHA inspectors cannot themselves stop work without a court order.
Practitioner note: Where the risk is imminent the notice takes effect immediately, and an appeal does not suspend it. Work stops until the matter is remedied.
Nearest equivalent in other frameworks
- →citation (OSHA — same term used for both notice types)