Improvement notice
A WHS inspector direction to fix a specific breach within a set timeframe. Failure to comply leads to an infringement notice or prosecution.
Ask Chalkline about this →Improvement notice
A formal written direction issued by a WHS inspector to a person (usually a PCBU, officer, or worker) who is contravening, or likely to contravene, the Work Health and Safety Act or Regulations. The notice identifies the specific contravention and sets a deadline by which the issue must be remedied.
Also known as: inspector’s notice, WHS notice.
Category: WHS enforcement.
An improvement notice is one step up from verbal advice. If an inspector attends your site and finds a breach that can’t be fixed on the spot, they issue the notice in writing. The deadline is set by the inspector based on the severity of the issue. Failure to comply within the timeframe results in an infringement notice (on-the-spot fine) or referral for prosecution. On a building site, improvement notices are commonly issued for SWMS deficiencies, missing site induction records, inadequate fall prevention, or failure to display principal contractor signage.
Related
- WorkSafe Queensland: what builders need to know, covers WHSQ’s full enforcement toolkit including improvement notices, prohibition notices, and infringement notices
See also
- Prohibition notice, a stronger enforcement tool that stops work immediately
- SWMS: when it’s required and how to write one
- High-risk construction work list
Last updated: 2026-05-10. Verified: 2026-05-10.