Investigators have the following powers:
- The power to require people to answer questions. Whereas a person can usually decline to answer a police officer's questions, failure to cooperate with a Health & Safety Inspector may itself be an offence.
- The power to enter premises.
- The power to require premises or things inside them to remain undisturbed.
- The power to take measurements, samples, photographs etc.
- The power to take possession of potential evidence.
- The power to require production of books or documents.
- The power to arrest and detain in custody a person suspected of an offence.
- The power to conduct tape and/or video recorded "interviews under caution" i.e. where answers to questions may be used in evidence in a subsequent prosecution.
