Section 1 Common Law Flashcards
What are the 4 Common Law duties of care
Duty to provide a safe place of work
Duty to provide safe systems of work
Duty to provide safe equipment
Duty to provide competent colleagues
Can an employer be prosecuted in a criminal court for failure to comply with these common law duties
NO- these are common law precedents created for,
civil duties of care. (can be sued for compensation- but can’t be prosecuted for a criminal offence)
What is Common Law
Common Law is a Law that is created through legal presidents in court.
What is Statue Law
Statue Law is legislation that is created by Government or Parliament.
What is Criminal Law
Criminal Law is a law designed to punish those who commit offences.
What is Civil Law
Civil Law is a law to regulate disputes between parties.
What does Common Law do or what is the purpose of Common Law.
(can help a victim or victims - 4 common law duties-).
Common Law:
- Ensure consistency in application of the law between judges & courts.
- Allows law to evolve to suit society’s changing needs.
- decisions made a published, along with the reasoning behind them.
- Gives flexibility to interpret Statue Law and to consider each case on it’s own merits.
What can Common Law decisions establish
They can establish a new criminal offence or a new civil liability.
Can your employer be prosecuted for a breach of any of the 4 common law duties of care.
An employer can not be prosecuted for a breach of the common law duties. (these are civil duties - not criminal offences).
Can your employer be sued for a breach of any of the 4 common law duties of care.
Yes, they can sued for compensation.
but not prosecuted for criminal offences
Can a common law decision be overturned
A common law decision can only be over turned by a higher court or by new legislation.
Do common Law decisions interpret the words used in statue law.
Yes. Common law interprets the words/wording used in statue law.
As Common Law is a system of legal precedents, Are the decisions binding in Lower courts
Yes, all decisions are binding in Lower courts.
Make a list of the Key Features of Common Law
Common Law Key Features.
- Lower courts follow judgement of higher court
- Based on judgements by judges in court.
- If new law made findings/reasoning is published by judges
- Can create new criminal law or new civil liberty violation.
- Courts are bound by earlier judgements (precedents).
What is the relevance of Common Law to H&S
Common Law allows a victim to sue for compensation -under the duties o common law care that is owed.