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Tort: Occupiers' Liability

Skilled visitors and persons exercising a calling

  • 3 things to know
  • Components 2 and 3

Overview

Section 2(3)(b) and the risks a tradesperson is expected to guard against, Roles v Nathan on the chimney sweeps, and the firefighter cases that show where the subsection stops.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

What does section 2(3)(b) of the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 provide?

Key term

What did Roles v Nathan [1963] decide?

Key term

Does section 2(3)(b) protect an occupier against every risk to a tradesperson?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What does section 2(3)(b) of the Occupiers' Liability Act 1957 provide?

    Model answer

    Section 2(3)(b) allows an occupier to expect a person exercising a calling to guard against risks ordinarily incident to it. A specialist is therefore owed less protection against the special risks of that trade.

  2. 2

    What did Roles v Nathan [1963] decide?

    Model answer

    Two chimney sweeps died of carbon monoxide poisoning while sealing a flue with the boiler still alight. The Court of Appeal held the occupier not liable, because the sweeps should have guarded against that ordinary risk of their trade.

  3. 3

    Does section 2(3)(b) protect an occupier against every risk to a tradesperson?

    Model answer

    The subsection covers only risks ordinarily incident to the visitor's calling. An electrician injured by a rotten staircase can still sue, because a collapsing staircase is no risk of that trade.

  4. 4

    What did Ogwo v Taylor [1987] decide?

    Model answer

    A householder negligently started a fire while burning off paint, and a firefighter was scalded by steam. The House of Lords held the householder liable even though the risk was an ordinary one of firefighting.

  5. 5

    What did Salmon v Seafarer Restaurants [1983] decide?

    Model answer

    A fire officer was injured fighting a fire negligently started by the occupier of a fish and chip shop. The court held the occupier liable, because injury to a firefighter was a foreseeable consequence of starting the fire.

  6. 6

    How do the firefighter cases sit alongside section 2(3)(b)?

    Model answer

    Section 2(3)(b) applies where the occupier has done nothing careless and the risk is simply part of the trade. A specialist can still recover where the occupier negligently created the emergency.

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