Vl, employers and product liability Flashcards
Should an employer take precautions against employee stress
unless evidence otherwise, entitled to assume employee can cope with normal stress of job
precautions required depend on nature of job
Employer’s responsibilities under Health and Safety at Work etc Act
employers must ensure as far as reasonably practical the health, safety and welfare at work of all employees
employer’s liability for defective equipment
liable for personal injury of employee in course of employment caused by defective equipment provided by employer for business purposes
what if employee personal injury due to defective equipment is the fault of a third party e.g someone who fixed or installed it
employer is still liable
What steps must an employer take to avoid liability for defective equipment
steps of an ordinary prudent employer
What are the employer’s non-delegable duties in Wilson and Clyde Coal
competent workforce
adequate plant and equipment
effective system of work
What does it mean if a duty is non-delegable
employer is always liable and cannot delegate them to another manager or employee.
Requirements for vicarious liability
tort, by employee, in course of employment.
what is an employee for vicarious liability
control, wages, step time and place, uniform, instructions, hire and fire, integrated into business, tax and benefits, tools
Reality of relationship, not belief of parties or contracts
Does vicarious liability apply to independent contractors
No
Can two employer’s be jointly VL through a finding of dual employment
Rare
Who is the employer when an employee is on loan to another employer
Likely to be the original employer. Rare to find dual liabililty. Look at all the circumstances.
When is a relationship akin to employment
providing accommodation and food, pocket money, no contract but bound by vows.
When is a tort in the course of employment
Close connection test or salmond test
Salmond test
unauthorized mode of carrying out authorized activities.
close connection test
Cox:
tort was the result of an activity by tortfeasor on behalf of D
the activity was part of the business activities of D
employment created the risk of the tort
If tortfeasor is committing an illegal act or disobeying the instructions of the employer can VL still apply
Yes
Can a detour prevent VL
Matter of degree - was it a new independent journey. Travelling to and from work is normally outside the course of employment
If the tort is personal or an act of vengeance is in within the course of employment
No
Which statute protects against defective products
Consumer protection act 1987
How is liability under consumer protection act established
defective product, damage and causal link.
When can’t a claim regarding defective goods be brought using the consumer protection act
pure economic loss
loss or damage to product less than £275
loss or damage to property not intended for private use but intended by C for that purpose
Defenses under consumer protection act
defective due to compliance with EU obligations
D didn’t supply product to C
supply was not in the course of business and for profit
was not defective at time of supply
defect is due to subsequent inclusion in another product
scientific info is not such that D could have discovered the defect
Can a claim be brought under the consumer protection act for quality or value of goods
No only safety. If claim relates to quality or value it must be brought under contract law
what products are included and excluded from the consumer protection act
goods and component parts but NOT buildings
Hierarchy of Ds under consumer protection act
Producer / manufacturer
importer of products into EU
own brander
supplier / retailer
What must be shown for a successful claim under consumer protection act
show there is a defect in the product so that the safety is not as personal generally entitled to expect - objective consumer expectation test
what is the consumer expectation test
objective
not what consumers expect but what they are legitimately entitled to expect regarding safety of product