R v Chargot (trading as Contract Services) and others – WLR Daily

Posted December 11th, 2008 in burden of proof, health & safety, law reports by sally

R v Chargot (trading as Contract Services) and others [2008] UKHL 73; [2008] WLR (D) 379

“When criminal proceedings were brought against an employer under ss 2 and 3 of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 it was sufficient for the prosecution to prove merely a risk of injury arising from a state of affairs at work, and it was not necessary to identify, allege and prove specific breaches of duty by the employer. Once that was done a prima facie case of breach was established. The onus then passed to the employer to make good the defence of reasonable practicability.”

WLR Daily, 10th December 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

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