This chapter looks at the civil law arm of health and safety law, which serves to provide compensation to employees or ex-employees who have suffered a detriment due to the unlawful actions of their employers. It focuses on personal injury claims brought to the County Court and High Court and the defences that are available for employers when faced with such litigation. The discussions cover claims due to negligence, breach of statutory duty, breach of contract and constructive dismissal, and stress-based claims.
Chapter
25. Health and safety—The civil law
Chapter
4. Unfair dismissal—reasons and remedies
Employment tribunals must address three questions when faced with an unfair dismissal claim: Is the claimant entitled in law to pursue his/her claim? Was the main reason for the dismissal potentially lawful? Did the employer act reasonably in carrying out the dismissal? This chapter begins by distinguishing between three different types of dismissal claims that are brought to employment tribunals: unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal and constructive dismissal. It goes on to discuss the first two of the three questions. It describes the four possible outcomes when a claimant wins an unfair dismissal case: reinstatement, re-engagement, compensation and a declaration that a dismissal was unfair. In practice, compensation is by far the most common outcome. The chapter then considers debates on remedies in unfair dismissal cases.
Chapter
11. Health and Safety at Work
This chapter considers the provisions of the Health and Safety at Work, etc Act 1974. It covers the background to the HASAWA, covering both the criminal and civil liability for health and safety. It considers the powers of inspectors, enforcement of the Act, improvement notices and prohibition notices, the burden of proof and appeals; statutory duties on health, safety, and welfare; the impact of European law; burden of proof; the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007; and compensation for injuries at work. It also looks at a number of health and safety regulations, including the ‘six pack’. Also looked at is the extent of the employer’s duty, and its duty to unborn children, and the limitation period for bringing an action and risk assessments and employers’ duties in relation to Coronavirus.
Chapter
9. Unfair dismissal
Each Concentrate revision guide is packed with essential information, key cases, revision tips, exam Q&As, and more. Concentrates show you what to expect in a law exam, what examiners are looking for, and how to achieve extra marks. This chapter discusses the law on unfair dismissal. The principal cases are discussed in full. It is easy to get lost in the mass of case law and concentration must be kept on the statute and these leading cases. The employer must demonstrate that the reason for the dismissal relates to capability or qualifications, conduct, a statutory ban, or some other substantial reason of a kind to justify the dismissal. An employer must act reasonably in treating a reason as sufficient for dismissal. This is the famous ‘range of reasonable responses’ test. It should be guided by the ACAS Code of Practice 2015 and must follow contractual procedures. The remedies for unfair dismissal include re-employment or compensation.
