Employers could face on-the-spot fines for poor safety conditions amid rising concern over the high level of deaths in the workplace.
The Minister of State for Labour Affairs, Mr Tony Killeen, said the newly-appointed board of the Health and Safety Authority (HSA) would have a broader range of strengths under moves to revamp the current legislation.
"I am concerned at the continuing high level of accidents and deaths in the workplace," he added. "The primary goal I am setting for this board is the achievement of a significant reduction in workplace accidents and deaths."
There have been 47 reported fatalities over the past 12 months - 16 in the construction industry and 14 in the agriculture sector.
The HSA will be empowered to propose a range of new initiatives, including on-the-spot fines, testing for intoxicants, better advisory facilities and more effective inspection and enforcement.
The authority can currently only issue on the spot fines to lorries carrying dangerous materials without a licence and there are no facilities for testing people for intoxicants, such as drugs or alcohol.