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Employers Liability in Negligence

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NEGLIGENCE: THE EMPLOYER’S DUTIES Employers Liability in Negligence • May be personally liable to employees who injure themselves. • May be personally liable to employees who are injured by another employee or sometimes by an independent contractor employed by the employer. • May be vicariously liable if one employee is injured by another employee. NOTE: • Employees may also be able to recover from statutory workers compensation schemes. • Employees’ rights at common law may be restricted by the same schemes. • e.g. WorkCover Queensland Act 1996 Other Possible Causes of Action Against an Employer • The tort of breach of statutory duty (separate tort). • Breach of an express or implied term of the contract of employment …show more content…

The finding of liability. 2. The finding of only 10% contributory negligence. • Dismissed the appeal: 1. P conduct must be judged in the context of the finding of Ds failure to provide a safe system of work. 2. P’s conduct was mere inadvertence, inattention or misjudgement. • Leading Authority presently. • At page 310, “Once it is accepted that such use [of such hoist] would eliminate the risk of injury, it is necessarily follows that a prudent employer exercising reasonable care would require that it be used.” • The employer must insist on a safe system, if it is not used, must sack the employee. Bus v. S.C.C. (1989) • “The law has progressed by placing an increased emphasis upon the relevance of the possibility of negligence or inadventure on the part of the person to whom the duty is owed” at page 90. • Defendants must anticipate carelessness on the behalf of others. Premises and Tools • Davie v. New Merton Board Mills • The plaintiff got hit in the eye by a piece of a chisel, the employer was not liable because: • The defect in the tools was not discoverable on reasonable inspection AND • Bought from a reputable manufacturer. Wilson v Tyneside • Employer not liable because: • P experienced window cleaner. • D did issue warnings in writing and orally. • Duty not so high when premises not Ds. • P had cleaned those windows before and knew them to be unsafe. • Checking was not the trade practice. Smith v.

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