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Work Health and Safety Act 2011
173Warning to be given
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173 Warning to be given
(1) Before requiring a person to answer a question or provide information
or a document under this part, other than by a written notice under
section 171 (2A), an inspector must—
(a) identify himself or herself to the person as an inspector by
producing the inspector’s identity card or in some other way;
and
(b) warn the person that it is an offence to refuse or fail to comply
with the requirement without reasonable excuse; and
(c) warn the person about the effect of section 172; and
(d) advise the person about the effect of section 269 (Act does not
affect legal professional privilege).
(1A) A written notice under section 171 (2A) must—
(a) state that the notice is given under section 171 (2A); and
(b) state the purpose of the entry to the workplace to which the
notice relates; and
(c) contain a statement to the effect that it is an offence to refuse or
fail to comply with a requirement in the notice without
reasonable excuse; and
(d) contain a statement about the effect of section 172 and
section 269; and
(e) if the notice requires the person to attend before an inspector—
state that the person may attend with a legal practitioner or other
(2) It is not an offence for an individual to refuse to answer a question
put by an inspector or provide information or a document to an
inspector under this part on the ground that the question, information
or document might tend to incriminate the person, unless the person
was first given—
(a) the warning in subsection (1) (c); or
(b) a notice with the statement mentioned in subsection (1A) (d).
(3) Nothing in this section prevents an inspector from obtaining and
using evidence given to the inspector voluntarily by any person.