PIP report, order, post-inspection recommendations, instruction and decision: how do they differ?

Author: inspekcja-pracy.pl editorial teamChecked: 15 October 2026

Short answer

The inspector records the findings of the inspection in a report (protokół). The company may submit written objections to it within 7 days of it being presented (Article 31(5) of the Act on the National Labour Inspectorate). On the basis of the findings, the inspector issues orders (nakaz, which are decisions) in matters of occupational health and safety (BHP), accidents and pay, sends post-inspection recommendations (wystąpienie) concerning other violations, or issues an instruction (polecenie). A decision (decyzja) establishing an employment relationship and an order to cease activity are issued by the District Labour Inspector. An appeal against the inspector's written orders may be filed within 7 days, and against a decision on an employment relationship, an appeal to the court within one month.

In this guide: What a labour inspector issues after an inspection, who signs, what is immediately enforceable, where an appeal lies. Deadlines: 7 days, 30 days, one month.

Who this applies to

Employers and businesses after an inspection by the National Labour Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy, PIP), and employees who want to understand what the inspector can do after their complaint. The names of the measures come from Articles 11 and 33 of the Act on the National Labour Inspectorate.

What to do

Check the report. It contains, among other things, a description of the violations found, the content of oral decisions and instructions with deadlines for implementing them, and a note on objections (Article 31(2)(7), (10) and (15)). It is signed by the inspector and the person representing the company (Article 31(3)).
Submit objections if the findings are wrong. Before signing, you may submit reasoned objections in writing within 7 days of the report being presented (Article 31(4)-(5)). The inspector must examine them and, if they are justified, amend or supplement the report (Article 31(6)). Refusing to sign does not block legal measures (Article 31(8)).
Identify what you have received. Use the table below. Whether an appeal is available and whether you must act immediately depends on the type of document.
Comply or challenge. Immediately enforceable orders must be complied with at once, even if you appeal. The deadline for an appeal against the inspector's written order is 7 days from service (Article 34(5)). Details are in the guide How do you appeal a labour inspector's order and what happens after the OIP decision?
Inform the PIP of compliance. After the deadlines in the decision expire or after it becomes final, you must inform the PIP in writing of its implementation (Article 35(1)). You reply to post-inspection recommendations within the deadline stated in them, which may not be longer than 30 days (Article 36(2)).

Orders, i.e. the inspector's decisions (Article 11(1)(1)-(7))

remedying health and safety shortcomings within a set time (point 1),
stopping work or activity where there is a direct threat to life or health, and assigning to other work people who were allowed to work contrary to the provisions (point 2),
stopping the operation of machinery and equipment that create a direct threat (point 3),
a ban on work in places where the conditions create a direct threat (point 4),
establishing the circumstances and causes of an accident within a set time (point 6),
carrying out tests and measurements of harmful factors (point 6a),
payment of wages or another benefit due (point 7).

Orders under points 2, 3, 4 and 7 are immediately enforceable by law. Decisions under points 1-4 may be issued by the inspector orally or by an entry in the construction log (Article 34(1a)), if the shortcomings can be remedied during the inspection (Article 34(4)). A written decision contains, among other things, the legal basis, the ruling, the deadline for remedying the shortcomings and information on the right to appeal (Article 34(2)).

Post-inspection recommendations (Article 11(1)(8))

The inspector sends them for violations other than those covered by orders, e.g. concerning working time or records. Post-inspection recommendations are in writing and contain the post-inspection requests and their legal basis (Article 36(1)-(1a)). They may also concern drawing consequences against the persons responsible. The Act on the National Labour Inspectorate does not provide for an appeal against post-inspection recommendations, but it does provide for an obligation to reply within up to 30 days.

Instructions

An oral instruction (Article 11(1)(8), Article 34(1b)) is used to remedy shortcomings during the inspection when this can be done on the spot (Article 34(4)). Its content and deadline go into the report.
An instruction concerning a civil-law contract (Article 11(2)) is issued by the inspector in writing, after allowing the parties to state their positions, when the features of an employment relationship predominate in the contract. The inspector sets the deadline for compliance so that compliance can be assessed while the inspection is still under way (Article 34(1c)).

Decisions of the District Labour Inspector

An order to cease activity or activity of a specific type, when the health and safety situation threatens life or health (Article 11(1)(5), Article 19(1)(4)).
A decision establishing the existence of an employment relationship (Article 11(1)(7a)). The condition is failure to comply with an instruction under Article 11(2)(2). An appeal against this decision lies to the labour court and is filed through the District Labour Inspectorate (OIP) within one month of service. See How the PIP establishes an employment relationship: inspection, instruction and OIP decision step by step and How to appeal against a District Labour Inspector's decision establishing an employment relationship.

Exceptions and caveats

A memo instead of a report. If the inspector finds no shortcomings, the result of the inspection may be described in an official memo signed only by the inspector (Article 31(10)-(11)).
Oral decisions are not subject to the appeal under Article 34(5). The provision on the 7-day appeal covers decisions issued in writing or by an entry in the construction log.
Advice instead of measures. For an employer starting a business, the inspector may in justified cases limit themselves to oral advice, if there is no direct threat and no intentional petty offence (Article 37a).
Non-compliance has consequences. Failure to comply on time with an enforceable PIP order is a petty offence (Article 283 § 2(7) of the Labour Code, Kodeks pracy, KP). According to the PIP, failure to comply with a decision also leads to administrative enforcement.
A fixed penalty notice is a separate route. Regardless of orders and post-inspection recommendations, the inspector may punish a petty offence with a fixed penalty notice (mandat) or file a request for punishment with the court. See Fixed penalty notice and fine for violating employee rights: how much are they and what if you refuse?
Constitutional Tribunal proceedings. The provision on the decision establishing an employment relationship is the subject of case K 17/26. As at 15.10.2026 the case is pending, and the provision applies.

Example

Assumptions: an inspector inspects a warehouse. The inspector finds a faulty machine guard, no working time records for some employees and an unpaid bonus provided for in the pay rules.

For the machine, the inspector issues an order to stop its operation (point 3), immediately enforceable.
For the unpaid bonus, the inspector issues a payment order (point 7), also immediately enforceable.
The inspector describes the missing working time records in post-inspection recommendations. The company must reply within the deadline stated in the recommendations, which may not be longer than 30 days.
The company disagrees with the description of the machine's condition in the report, so within 7 days of it being presented it submits written objections.

Documents and deadlines

Measure	Who issues it	Form	Compliance	Challenge	Legal basis
Inspection report	inspector	written (paper or electronic)	not applicable	written objections within 7 days	Article 31
Health and safety, accident or measurement order (points 1, 6, 6a)	inspector	written, oral (point 1) or entry in the construction log (point 1)	within the deadline in the decision	appeal to the OIP, 7 days	Article 11(1), Article 34(5)
Order to stop, ban on work (points 2-4)	inspector	written, oral or entry in the construction log	immediately	appeal to the OIP, 7 days	Article 11(1)(2)-(4)
Order to pay wages (point 7)	inspector	written	immediately	appeal to the OIP, 7 days	Article 11(1)(7)
Order to cease activity (point 5)	OIP	written	as per the decision	as per the information in the decision	Article 11(1)(5), Article 19
Post-inspection recommendations (point 8)	inspector	written	reply within up to 30 days	not provided for in the Act	Article 36
Instruction (point 8)	inspector	oral	during the inspection	not provided for in the Act	Article 34(1b) and (4)
Instruction concerning a contract (Article 11(2))	inspector	written	within the deadline in the instruction	not provided for in the Act	Article 34(1c)
Decision on an employment relationship (point 7a)	OIP	written with a statement of reasons	after the deadline for appeal expires, with a final judgment, or when declared immediately enforceable	appeal to the labour court, one month	Article 34(2b)-(2k), (5a)

You can calculate the appeal deadline in the deadline calculator.

Frequently asked questions

Do I have to sign the report straight away?

You do not have to sign it straight away if you want to submit objections. You have 7 days from the report being presented to do so. Remember that refusing to sign does not stop the inspector's actions.

Does an appeal against a payment order suspend the payment?

No. An order to pay wages is immediately enforceable (Article 11(1)(7)). You may file an appeal, but the payment must be made.

How do post-inspection recommendations differ from an order?

An order is an administrative decision that can be appealed and enforced. Post-inspection recommendations contain post-inspection requests. The Act requires you to inform the PIP of the deadline and manner of implementing them.

Useful tools

Appeal deadline calculator

Related guides

Sources (documents in Polish)

Sources checked on 15 October 2026. Law as at 15 October 2026.

Change history

15 October 2026: First publication.

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This guide is for information only. The current legal provisions and the information of the National Labour Inspectorate apply. An independent information website. We are not the National Labour Inspectorate (Państwowa Inspekcja Pracy).