Cap. 646 Art. 20Orders by officers.

(1) An officer may give an order, verbally or in writing, to safeguard health or safety at work, and every person shall observe such order forthwith until such time as it is revoked by an officer or until it has been revoked by a competent Court or Tribunal:

Provided that the person who receives the order, whether such person is a worker or an employer, may defend oneself from the charge of not having observed the order if he proves that compliance with the order would have been of immediate detriment to health and safety at work:

Provided further that any order given verbally shall be confirmed and notified in writing, including by electronic mail upon the person to whom it was given within three (3) working days.

(2) (a) An officer may order that a workplace or part of a workplace be sealed, and such officer may revoke any such order.

(b) When a workplace or part thereof is sealed, no person shall enter into a sealed area without an officer’s permission.

(3) When an officer makes an order in writing in accordance with this article, that officer may affix in the workplace, or on any equipment, machine, device, article or thing, a copy of the said order and no person except an officer shall remove such copy unless authorised to do so by an officer.

(4) When an officer makes an order in writing in accordance with this article, or issues a report of inspection to an employer or to a person in charge of the work, the employer or person in charge of the work shall forthwith cause a copy thereof to be posted in a conspicuous place at the workplace where it is most likely to attract the attention of workers.

(5) An officer shall not be required to afford to an employer, worker or other person an opportunity for a hearing before giving an order.